Ring Gap
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 355
Likes: 19
Ring Gap I have a 06, 6.0 that I'm doing a turbo build on. It's unknown mileage, but the engine is very clean inside, even the tops of the pistons. No carbon or sludge at all. I plan on pushing it at the track, 20, 22 boost. I've heard both ways, don't touch it and others swear by opening the ring gaps. What is best to be on the safe side, pull pistons? If I thought it had 150,000 miles on it, I wouldn't worry, but I don't think this one does.
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
Put it this way, you'll never harm an engine with ring gaps a little large.
And any talk of excessive blowby due to large or oversized ring gaps...show me one
Even a few thou bigger than "ideal" wont hurt things a bit.
Just open them up, that way you'll be safe.
And any talk of excessive blowby due to large or oversized ring gaps...show me one
Even a few thou bigger than "ideal" wont hurt things a bit.
Just open them up, that way you'll be safe.
If you were going to run 10-15#'s Id say run meth and pray. Knowing your going for 20 + #'s Id say definitely gap them and still pray. If humanly possible Id have to budget forged pistons and rods if I was pushing stock ones hard enough to need the pistons removed for altered ring gaps.
Just my opinion, but if I were to pull it down, I would prob hone/throw a new set of file fit rings in, ck bearings-by the time you pull the heads, get new head gaskets, what's another $100 or so
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
Sounds like the heads are already off it as he said piston crowns look great ?
TBH pistons are so cheap these days, I'd be inclined to say at an absolute minimum, just throw a better set in there.
But then, rods and pistons are dirt cheap, I'd do both.
TBH pistons are so cheap these days, I'd be inclined to say at an absolute minimum, just throw a better set in there.
But then, rods and pistons are dirt cheap, I'd do both.
What fuel?
There is literally zero way to know unless you pull them and see what you have. Anything else is a gamble.
If the tops are at .022 or larger I leave them for E85. (open to .024-.025 for pump/race gas IMO) Bottoms should be .002 or so more than the top. I rarely touch a bottom ring, I’ve had to open up a few tops. They aren’t as uniform as you think. On the same engine I’ve had 1-2 pistons with .016 gaps while the others were at .022. Also regardless of how clean the engine looks, I’d bet the ring lands are full of crap. Good to pull the rings and clean the carbon out of them. If the car ran on pump gas for any length of time, it has carbon in the ring lands. I've got a 4.8 with 12k miles on it. I could eat out of the oil pan... but the ringlands were still were full of crap.
There is literally zero way to know unless you pull them and see what you have. Anything else is a gamble.
If the tops are at .022 or larger I leave them for E85. (open to .024-.025 for pump/race gas IMO) Bottoms should be .002 or so more than the top. I rarely touch a bottom ring, I’ve had to open up a few tops. They aren’t as uniform as you think. On the same engine I’ve had 1-2 pistons with .016 gaps while the others were at .022. Also regardless of how clean the engine looks, I’d bet the ring lands are full of crap. Good to pull the rings and clean the carbon out of them. If the car ran on pump gas for any length of time, it has carbon in the ring lands. I've got a 4.8 with 12k miles on it. I could eat out of the oil pan... but the ringlands were still were full of crap.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
