i just got a set of standard size piston rings, and had my stock pistons cleaned at a machine shop, i'm installing the now, is there a proper way they go on? the instructions are confusing, it says to have the mark on the ring face up, i understand that part, but is there a special way they have to sit on the piston. or do they move around when the car is driven so it doesnt even matter which way they sit?
And could i make my own ring compressor? with a sheet of aluminum or sheet metal and a clamp.
Few things, you need a piston ring compressor.
What you do is compress the rings and starting from the top of the engine push the piston in, so that the rod will connect to the crank.
Since the rings are compressd it should just slide right down, and it should just slide right out of the compressor.
Few things before you compress the rings and oil one make 100% that the cracks in them, where it isnt connected are NOT lined up with each other, you WILL get oil into the combustion chamber.
By the way I hope your removed the ring ridge, if not installing the pistons right now will just destroy the rings.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Whats the Ring ridge??????
No one even mentioned that to me.
So what your saying is the mix up the rings so that none of the gaps (where the ring is broken apart) are aligned?
Also, there is 'ring gap clearance' -
You may need a real mechanic to fit those rings :
http://www.hastingsmfg.com/Service%20Tips/ring_gaps.htm
And, don't forget, when you drop those pistons into the
cylinder bore, the connecting rods have upper rod cap bolts
that will score the crankshaft journals when they assembly
is pushed down. Slip some short sections of tubing
temporarily over those bolts.
Croatian Z24 wrote:Whats the Ring ridge??????
No one even mentioned that to me.
So what your saying is the mix up the rings so that none of the gaps (where the ring is broken apart) are aligned?
You didnt remove your ring ridge?????
It is the littel ridge at the top of the cylinder, where the piston rings dont glide on per-say.
As the piston moves up and down milions of times, it wear the cylinder walls, (not a lot we are talking thousands of inch here, only a few sheets of paper thick), except for the littel part at the top where it doesnt reach, that stays the width it did when GM built it.
Dont install your pistons until that ridge is removed it will destroy all the rings.
Yes where the gap (where the ring is broken apart) CANT be lined up, make 100% they ARENT!!!!!
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
oh ok, yeah they are gone from what i can see, i had a machine shop Hone the block, i just checked and the cylinder wall feels smooth even at the top.
As for the size, im using my stock pistons, they have been blasted by a machine shop and look new. so he said i need standard size, so thats what he ordered. Any sizes over that is for when you bore the engine right?
i just installed the rings on the piston, i made sure none of the gaps aligned. is there anything else i need to know? im guessing dress the cylinder walls with oil, and the rings, then hammer the pistons down with the handle of the handle?
i noticed the small rings at the bottom (oil pick-up rings) are very flimsy , is there any chance they can bend or get crushed when the piston is going in
thanks for all the help guys.
if its a honed block you wont have a ridge just slap on the ring compressor and slide it in. the oil rings will be fine.
tap the ring compressor down on the block before you actually start to "hit" in the piston, keeps from rings popping out and getting caught and damaged.
