ring end gap

[adumb]

i am getting ready to put my pistons in my engine, and i am wondering what is the best way to measure end gap?
do i use calipers? also what does everyone reccomend for end gap? i just read about .004 for every inch of bore. any other input on that? thanks.

 

[jrm81bu]

Don't know for sure what the specs are, but basically you would put a ring in the cylinder(by itself) then use a feeler guage to check the gap. You need to be sure the ring is square in the bore, they make a tool for this(some just use the top of the piston), and about a half inch down in the cylinder(i think). Then you will need a ring filer to adjust the clearance, to make sure you file them square. I've never done this myself so don't hold me to this. Did you buy file fit rings? On the motors I've built, I just used the cheap sealed power rings, they should be ok,lol.

 

[adumb]

Don't know for sure what the specs are, but basically you would put a ring in the cylinder(by itself) then use a feeler guage to check the gap. You need to be sure the ring is square in the bore, they make a tool for this(some just use the top of the piston), and about a half inch down in the cylinder(i think). Then you will need a ring filer to adjust the clearance, to make sure you file them square. I've never done this myself so don't hold me to this. Did you buy file fit rings? On the motors I've built, I just used the cheap sealed power rings, they should be ok,lol.

i bought pistons that had already been installed in a motor, so i am thinking the end gap should be good, i still want to double check though

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

i bought pistons that had already been installed in a motor, so i am thinking the end gap should be good, i still want to double check though

Please don't tell me you are considering using used rings... Rings wear to the cylinder wall. Your block and the block they came out of will be differant and will never seat to your block. The only way to measure end gap is the above method, install ring in cylinder and measure with a feeler gauge. You can't get a measurement with the rings on the piston.

As for the needed gap, piston type and intended usage is the biggest factor. Heat expands rings and usage determines how much heat will be in the chamber. Everyday street rings can be run tighter than rings that will see nitrous. It's MUCH better to have too much gap than too little. If your rings are *clocked* 180* from each other, then the gases that slip past the first gap will have to travel around the piston to the other side and then excape part them, too. If there is too little gap, the rings will butt together and you'll end up with a scored cyl wall, broken piston, or, more than likely, both.

This is a good read on ring end gap. http://www.kb-silvolite.com/article.php ... ad&A_id=56