pogo69

who has a good recipe for proper piston ring gap placement,if there is such a thing i know in the past all i did was put the top ring opposite the thrust side. but now i hear a whole bunch of different views including it doesnt matter because the ring rotates and spins around in the cylinder which i'm not sure i buy and also you should never install rings on friday the 13th

boese1978

Read the instructions that came with the rings, best to follow each manufacturers set up. I am in the process of installing mine ( TRW on to SBC ICON pistons ) it says to stagger the gaps to opposite each other etc.....

pogo69

i agree with following mfg instructions on the end gaps but the piston ring placement is different i also assume different pistons are not totally round so a slight advantage on initial start up could be had

pogo69

i'm surprised that more ppl didnt mention their favorite install maybe its just no big deal... well my favorite is top ring opposte thrust side of cyl and 2nd opposite that and scrapers off center of pins

Oldsmaniac

If I remember from my Engine class years ago it was said not to install ring gaps on thrust or antithrust (opposite) positions but to stagger to the sides. Then I read somewhere that an oldtimer lines up all the gaps because they wont stay their long and will move about. For me I set them to either side of thrust.

RandyS

My machinist advised me to put the gap of the compression rings over the wrist pin, with the 2nd one rotated 180 degrees from the first, and space the gaps in the 3 oil ring pieces by 120 degrees. My rings seated almost immeditely.

oldcutlass

All I was ever told was not to line them up.

Magna86

The method Randy S says is what I have been taught followed by never line them all up.