Piston Rings
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia
Piston Rings I was installing new hastings rings on my new ls6 short block and came across a couple of things i cant explain and would appreciate some feedback.
It has been over bored 10 thou over. I was installing the rings i got with my kit and couldn't help noticing that the id of the top compression rings protrude about 2 thou when the ring is inserted into the ring land. The instructions that came with the rings specify that they shouldn't protrude but im thinking 2 thousands is not going to cause any problems.
Moving on however when i checked the gap on each of the rings in their corresponding bores all the gaps came in at between .020" - 022" i didn't even have to gap them? does this sound right? Hastings recommend the gap for my bore size to be from .012" - .022" so i am within tolerance. But ive never come across rings that are already pre gapped is this normal??
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
It has been over bored 10 thou over. I was installing the rings i got with my kit and couldn't help noticing that the id of the top compression rings protrude about 2 thou when the ring is inserted into the ring land. The instructions that came with the rings specify that they shouldn't protrude but im thinking 2 thousands is not going to cause any problems.
Moving on however when i checked the gap on each of the rings in their corresponding bores all the gaps came in at between .020" - 022" i didn't even have to gap them? does this sound right? Hastings recommend the gap for my bore size to be from .012" - .022" so i am within tolerance. But ive never come across rings that are already pre gapped is this normal??
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
What do you mean by the Inner of the ring protruding, You should not be able to see much of the ID of the ring because it is sitting in the ring land groove??? Your rings being close to the gap you need is common, assuming you did not buy a set of file fit rings, the manufacturer will take into cosideration the final size of the bore and hone, and make their rings to fit that measurement with a pre-determined gap in mind.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia
What do you mean by the Inner of the ring protruding, You should not be able to see much of the ID of the ring because it is sitting in the ring land groove??? Your rings being close to the gap you need is common, assuming you did not buy a set of file fit rings, the manufacturer will take into cosideration the final size of the bore and hone, and make their rings to fit that measurement with a pre-determined gap in mind.
My rings must have been pre gapped then? because They all came in within a thou of each eachother and i didnt have to file them whatsoever.
Do you mean you're getting something like this? (photo from of Helicoil's crate to dyno build thread)
If so, here's Tim's (Helicoil) comment:
I am using the Speed Pro Hellfire rings, p/n R19112 5 and noticed during a trial fit on the Diamond pistons that the second piston ring has too much radial wall (width) and stands above the piston. Not good! This is something I ran into on my Procharged 403 build too, it isn't that uncommon building race engines, especially with all the different piston manufacturers doing their own thing. Knowing this was the case here, I had ordered some 'open stock' second rings from Speed Pro with the correct radial wall, which was .160" wide.
If so, here's Tim's (Helicoil) comment:
I am using the Speed Pro Hellfire rings, p/n R19112 5 and noticed during a trial fit on the Diamond pistons that the second piston ring has too much radial wall (width) and stands above the piston. Not good! This is something I ran into on my Procharged 403 build too, it isn't that uncommon building race engines, especially with all the different piston manufacturers doing their own thing. Knowing this was the case here, I had ordered some 'open stock' second rings from Speed Pro with the correct radial wall, which was .160" wide.
Last edited by Roy V.; Feb 25, 2010 at 08:16 AM.
The ring should not stand above the piston at all, it needs to be below the face (side) of the piston, otherwise you will tear up the bore in no time.
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
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Sydney, Australia
For example if my ring land is .153" and i find a ring to suit my bore but the radial dimension is .140 will that be suitable? is there a maximum clearance for radial dimension?
FormerVendor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
I'd ask Total seal but you don't want a huge amount of back clearance either as it's volume that has to be filled to make the ring work sometimes. Excessive back clearance might delay the ring sealing a lil bit possibly.
