Hi,

Im building an iron 383 and having problems installing the piston rings...I have tried an adjustable piston ring compressor with no luck. So i have bought a Summit fixed 3.905 piston ring compressor tube and still can not get the rings in :-(

When I push down the first oil ring just stops it going any futher...I have already broke one...im pressing down flat on the block as well I just cant seem to get it down the hole!

What compressors / tips are people installing there pistons...im using wiesco pistons & rings.

Thanks

Neal

 

Did you gap the rings?

 

You broke an oil ring?
BTW....you don't gap oil rings.

Have you installed pistons before?

 

yes ive built v8 engines before but these pistons just wont go :-(

Its the first oil control ring flimsy one catches at the bottom every time...

I thought the 3.905 fixed one from summit would work I must of tried 100 times and every time the bottom ring caught even though im pressing it down on the block when pressing the piston.

 

Are we sure the clearances are right? Was the block honed to the correct specs for the pistons? Or are you hpoeing its gonna work? Maybe get some calipers and see where everthing is at or bring it back to the machine shop. If the pistons where already in their maybe you have the wrong ring set.

 

"BTW....you don't gap oil rings."

You absolutely cut the ring ends to butt up against each other properly, but it of course will depend on the ring manufacturer most times.

Are they the proper oil control rings for that piston (3mm)?
when the machine shop did the bore/hone was there a small chamfner added to the top where the bore and deck intersect each other?

Try taking the rings off the pistons and put just the rings (yes even oil control) in the bore properly to ensure its the appropriate size.

 

You may be going too slow. I've found if you're try to tap them in too gingerly it allows the rings to uncompress before they make it into the bore. Assuming the rings are not butting against themselves you may try being more aggressive about tapping them in.

 

Any use of oil for lube?

 

what is your actual cylinder bore? You say 383 ci, however if you are at 3.898 or 3.900" bore, then that seems logical that you would get hung up using a 3.905" fixed ring compressor.

I'm running a nearly identical setup. 383 iron block with Wiseco pistons/rings. My cylinder bore dimension is 3.903" and I used an ARP 3.900" ring compressor. I did check to ensure the oil rings had minimum 0.010" gap out of the box (and they did), so I did not clearance them further. The pistons went in smooth as glass. Here is a pic.

 

^^^ I can not agree with RezinTexas more. You need to know what bore size you have before you go and order a ring compressor. Are you sure the pistons are the correct size for the bore, did you measure everything prior to starting Assembly. Double check everything because all the pistons I have ever put in go in with minimal resistance.

 

If everything else is correct, you need to give the piston a really good coat of oil for it to go in smoothly. My oil rings were popping out too until I doused them in oil.

 

RezinTexas you are correct

My piston ring compressor was too big needed a 3.900

Thank you for all your help people I will look closer next time!