5.3 Ring gap
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Teching In
Joined: Aug 2014
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5.3 Ring gap I've got an L33 that I'm rebuilding. Keeping stock crank and rods, put a set of sealed power pistons in because the stock ones had wear on the skirts. Anyways... I bought the appropriate rings for them P/N E-937K
The rings came and are separated within the package. They are also identified by where the bevel is at on the inside. The installation instructions don't say anything about checking gap.
I obviously checked the gap, and on the first 2 (top and middle) and the top ring gap was .020 and the second was .014.
Now this goes against everything I've researched and what I learned in school. It's a mild NA 5.3 (3.780 bore) so .004x3.780 = .015 and the second should be about 20% larger so .018..
Why are these rings backwards? I've checked multiple rings in multiple cylinders and they are all about the same.
The rings came and are separated within the package. They are also identified by where the bevel is at on the inside. The installation instructions don't say anything about checking gap.
I obviously checked the gap, and on the first 2 (top and middle) and the top ring gap was .020 and the second was .014.
Now this goes against everything I've researched and what I learned in school. It's a mild NA 5.3 (3.780 bore) so .004x3.780 = .015 and the second should be about 20% larger so .018..
Why are these rings backwards? I've checked multiple rings in multiple cylinders and they are all about the same.
Last edited by SupaDupaSteve; Feb 15, 2015 at 04:40 PM.
the normal ring gap in theory for a N/A engine is .004 per inch bore, now if your block hasent been machined or honed at a machine shop I would check the ring end gap half way down the bore, you can use a flat top piston to push the rings down into the bore, if I were you I would go by what that manufacture of the ring tells your to gap them, I usally gap my second rings .002 larger then the top rings for the gases to escape from in between the rings, a cracked ring land could ruin your day. I wouldn't sweat the .020 gap on your top ring that is if you are sure you don't have the rings mixed up, good luck I hope this helps
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
the normal ring gap in theory for a N/A engine is .004 per inch bore, now if your block hasent been machined or honed at a machine shop I would check the ring end gap half way down the bore, you can use a flat top piston to push the rings down into the bore, if I were you I would go by what that manufacture of the ring tells your to gap them, I usally gap my second rings .002 larger then the top rings for the gases to escape from in between the rings, a cracked ring land could ruin your day. I wouldn't sweat the .020 gap on your top ring that is if you are sure you don't have the rings mixed up, good luck I hope this helps
