installing rings in piston grooves

[grumpyvette]

obviously if you've been around engine rebuilds, long enough, your aware that you'll eventually see guys installing rings in piston grooves by spiral twisting them into place, like the picture below depicts, AND YES YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT THE RING HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY DISTORTED
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...&mid=E76F9F78364354FD222DE76F9F78364354FD222D

the 80MM-120MM tool fits all chevy V8 engines
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Piston-Ring-Installer-Remover-Engine-Plier-80-120mm/32477002020.html

the problem, with that method is that its not at all difficult to leave the piston ring twisted permanently, or warping it to the point it either breaks , or its bent ,OR MORE LIKELY degrading its ability to seal against the bore wall.
so its a good idea to carefully use a expander tool, but only expand the ring enough to install it.

buy and use the correct piston groove cleaning tool, if your one of the guys that think scrapping out crud in a piston ring groove with a broken ring will give good results, I can assure you close detailed inspection will show minor scratches and ring groove damage that reduces the ring seal efficiency

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/shc-94662

http://www.superstreetonline.com/how-to/engine/impp-1110-piston-anatomy-tech-knowledge/

https://goodson.com/products/gas-porting-tools

these tools come in various ring sizes ,(but the various piston diameters are not as critical as ring width, it should be obvious that you MUST USE the tool that places the drilled gas port at the correct place in the upper ring groove roof and you damn sure better not drill deeper than the rear edge of the ring groove or youll destroy the piston

if you have oil ring expanders with the plastic bits,they are there to prevent you from over lapping the ends of the oil ring expander, theres some oil ring expander s that are vertical ,some horizontal, but all have the ends butt , none over-lap
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sme-90a4000

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sme-90a4120

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sme-90a4250

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tsr-rc4345-4455

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tsr-rc4455-4575

having a decent set of piston ring compressors available in your tool box helps
make engine assembly far easier, using the type posted above makes the job rather easy

using the type below could make a preacher cuss up a blue streak
the #$%%^^& things are just prone to allowing rings too catch and potentially break, as they enter the bore, yeah they work at times but they are not nearly as easy or foolproof

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lil-20500

related info

http://www.manleyperformance.com/dl/tec ... -rings.pdf

http://www.rosspistons.com/information/ ... lation.pdf

http://www.circletrack.com/enginetech/1 ... education/

http://www.diamondracing.net/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-and-installing-connecting-rods-pistons.247/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tion-of-crank-durring-short-blk-assembly.852/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-and-basic-piston-ring-info-youll-need.509/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-piston-ring-grooves-and-related-info.1797/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/maximizing-piston-to-bore-ring-seal.3897/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/measuring-piston-skirt-clearance.1795/

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=3897

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=509

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=5454

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=2795

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=55&p=98&hilit=ring+compressor#p98

https://www.uempistons.com/installation ... lation.pdf

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=247&p=1089&hilit=ring+compressor#p1089

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=8744&p=30912&hilit=cleaning+piston+grooves#p30912

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=509&p=632&hilit=ring+compressor#p632

GET THE RING END GAP TOO TIGHT AND WHEN THE RINGS EXPAND WITH ENGINE HEAT THE ENDS TOUCH THE RINGS LOCK IN THE BORE AND THE PISTON LANDS SHEAR OFF
GET THE GAP A BIT TOO LARGE AND YOU MIGHT BURN A BIT MORE OIL OR LOOSE SOME COMPRESSION,BUT YOUR LESS LIKELY TO DAMAGE A PISTON. YOU'LL SEE A CHART LATER IN THE THREAD, BUT GENERALLY YOU'LL WANT .0045-.0065 PER INCH OF BORE DIAM. FOR A RING END GAP

 

[87vette81big]

I can't even tell you how many Racers & engine builders I have seen twist piston rings on.
At least 2 dozen.
Own a set of Snap On Piston Ring installation pliers.
Not bad on price. $ 25.00

 

[BetsyRed63]

I'll be getting a set when I get ready to build my big block. Seems like an affordable and wise investment.

 

[Grumpy]

used carefully, and with some experience,
a dremel tool cut-off wheel can do a decent job at cutting ring end gaps
read thru these related threads, posted below, youll find a good deal of info, on installing pistons and rings.

related threads with very useful info

assembling and installing connecting rods/pistons

look closely at the connecting rods one edge of the main bearing are is beveled noticeably more than the other that beveled side faces away from the rod its paired with because it matches the slight radiased bevel of the crank journal many builder class pistons are designed to go in, in either...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

assembling and installing connecting rods/pistons

look closely at the connecting rods one edge of the main bearing are is beveled noticeably more than the other that beveled side faces away from the rod its paired with because it matches the slight radiased bevel of the crank journal many builder class pistons are designed to go in, in either...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

Another rings end gap question

Hi, I'm rebuilding my 4.3L Vortec from 2003 Chevy Astro Cargo Van. When I bought it a year ago it had ~26.000 miles. The engine was knocking and I couldn't get rid of that annoying sound - tried to clean up lifters through the push roads and by "seafoaming". It didn't work out, so I just...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

resistance to rotation, of crank durring short blk assembly

Ok youve just installed your crankshaft in the engine block, with new main bearings and everything's well coated with assembly lube,and oil, and youve torqued down the main caps to spec. in at least three stages, and then gone back and rechecked the studs or bolts per the manufacturers...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

Made a mistake filing rings, still good?

First I want to thank Grumpy for his help on many forums and him maintaining this one. It's an absolute WEALTH of info. So.... I am assembling an essentially stock 350. For use in a daily driver 95 Tahoe with TBI. I'm using a .030 over eagle rotating kit and a hydraulic roller cam out of an...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

getting the correct piston to bore clearance, on your block

always think every step you take in any performance engine build through, logically and don't just jump off the dock head first, financially, without asking detailed questions , and documenting as much as you can in writing, and having a well thought through plan, parts list and time frame...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

maximizing piston to bore ring seal

From the February, 2009 issue of Circle Track By Jeff Huneycutt Piston Ring Prep It can be a hassle filing... read full caption Piston Ring Prep It can be a hassle filing three sets of rings per cylinder, but when done correctly the results can mean more power and less fall-off before the...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

installing rings in piston grooves

obviously if you've been around engine rebuilds, long enough, your aware that you'll eventually see guys installing rings in piston grooves by spiral twisting them into place, like the picture below depicts, AND YES YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT THE RING HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY DISTORTED...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

cleaning piston ring grooves, and related info

now if there's any job that's frequently ignored or avoided during an engine rebuild , its more than likely ,cleaning pistons and cleaning the grooves its high on the list! RELATED INFO (take advantage of millions of hours of previous engine builds, by skilled and experienced people, and the...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

crankshaft and connecting rod compatability

POSTED BY, navygunner08; "Does it matter what length rod you use with a particular crank? So if a crank is listed for use with 5.7" rods, can you use a 6" rod without modifications? And vise versa? " one factor to keep in mind is that rods typically have a side that rides against its matched...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

piston ring gaps

the general rule is that for normal use a pistons top ring should have a minimum of .004 thousandths end gap for each inch of bore diam. ie a 4" bore requires a minimum of a .016 end gap, to prevent the ring ends from bearing on each other after heat expansion,expanding them, so as to prevent...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

how piston ring groove depth & clearance effects ring seal

the job of the rings is to provide a high pressure gas tight seal preventing pressure in the combustion chamber during the compression, exhaust and power strokes above the piston from leaking past the rings and piston, the combination of slight inertial loads friction and pressure above the...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

piston rings & related info

step ONE if the bores not concentric, and bore walls parallel and the bore surface consistent in its surface Finish or if you had the bore honed without the use of torque plates simulating a cylinder heads bolted in place, the rings WILL NOT SEAL as effectively , as they would if you had...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

 

[87vette81big]

I will printoff the piston ring gap chart tonight Grumpy.
Use it at work.
Have a 1984 Buick Grand National V6 to build.
A Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo V6 engine.
SBF 5.0'S .
A Race C6 427 Dart NSX Block wih target 1500 RWHP on the work AWD Mustang Euro Dyno.

With some luck build my Olds 425 & 1 Pontiac 455 for my Ponchos soon.