It can be very difficult to check end gap on oil ring rails or gapless ring rails. I opened up the gap on a top ring of the appropriate bore size and squared it in the cylinder with a tool made from a scrap sleeve. Just set…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN
Piston ring second land accumulator grooves provide an area for escaping combustion gases and crankcase pressures, that get past the piston rings, to gather and dissipate. Without this feature, the passing compression losses or crank case pressure buildup could cause ring flutter, removing stable…
Engine Pro Tech Committee with special thanks to United Engine & Machine Co. Silvolite, KB and ICON Pistons
Piston Ring Squaring Tool I made a quick and accurate piston ring aligner for checking end gaps out of a .030 over, 454 Chevy flat top piston. Just chuck the piston in a lathe and turn the ring lands down to a little under 4.000 ̋. (Mine is 3.995 ̋.)…
Joe Degraw Grawmondbecks Performance Engines Mason City, IA
I recycle the thick plastic trays used to store and ship 1-liter soda bottles. They work really well for keeping piston and rod assemblies in order, and protected from damage as you move them about the shop. Trays are very stable when you set them down, and…
Greg Avrett Cal’s Engine & Machine Shop Oakdale, CA
Evolution of Ring End Gap Theory It’s easy to see or know when you don’t have enough ring end gap. Common signs include scuffed ring faces, damaged rings and cylinders and/or shiny areas on the butt ends of the rings. The ideal minimum ring end-gap would by found under the…
Engine Pro Technical Committee with thanks to Mahle Aftermarket Inc.
We have a quick trick to use while checking ring gaps on odd engines that you may not have a ring squaring tool for, and/ or the pistons are not of a flat top design. Set your digital-dial calipers for the depth you want…
Jake Sampson Sampson Racing Engines Inver Grove Heights, MN
Last month we discussed changes in piston ring design. Changes in rings also mean changes in the pistons they ride on. A century ago you could find cast iron pistons in your motor. Aluminum soon proved to be a lighter weight and more durable material to…
ENGINE PRO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE with thanks to HASTINGS PISTON RING COMPANY
Piston Ring Gapping Tip Some of you may know this ring end gapping tip, but I have never seen it anywhere. Not even in ring package instructions. This has to do with checking the flimsy oil rail gaps. Most conventional size bores are not much of a problem. The rails…
Jim Feurer Animal Jim Racing Lacon, IL