Seating rings
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool NY
Seating rings
I'm wondering what the procedure is for seating rings and approximately how many miles it takes to do this. The engine is a 400 with new rotating assembly and I have about 30 miles on it.
Thanks
Fred
Thanks
Fred
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I'm positive someone with more info will respond. I read this somewhere that the process of seating rings includes engine breaking from varying speeds. I believe you allow light engine breaking from 30mph speeds up to 60 mph. Basically, get the cars speed up to 30 and then allow the car to coast back down to a stop. Follow this process up to speeds of 60. I really don't recall the number of times to do this, but I think I did it a dozen or so times with my big block.
Compared to breaking in the cam, seating the rings is a lot less terrifying.
Compared to breaking in the cam, seating the rings is a lot less terrifying.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I agree with L88Plus- to a point. If the rebuild was done using stock type cast or moly rings, then it's as good as it's going to get. If they used chrome rings, it may take a little longer.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
Count me as one who thinks rings take a while to fully
wear in.
The recommendation from the factory for our C3 gen cars was
500 miles.
No full throttle.
General belief was to vary rpms so the seating does not happen
a one rpm.
Yes using engine for braking has a good effect on rings because it changes the load from down to up.
wear in.
The recommendation from the factory for our C3 gen cars was
500 miles.
No full throttle.
General belief was to vary rpms so the seating does not happen
a one rpm.
Yes using engine for braking has a good effect on rings because it changes the load from down to up.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Big Spring TX
Depends on what type of rings and what you used to soak the pistons before the install. I always soak my pistons and rings with a 50/50 mix of conventional 10w-30 and some conventional ATF.
If you aren't having an issue with blowby or anything though, I wouldn't worry about it. After I heat set the valvesprings I always take my engines out and go through the RPM range on the street with them. After that I really don't worry about it too much.
If you aren't having an issue with blowby or anything though, I wouldn't worry about it. After I heat set the valvesprings I always take my engines out and go through the RPM range on the street with them. After that I really don't worry about it too much.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
A modern set of moly rings as used in99% of rebuilds is IMO going to be broken in long before your cam will a good set of moly faced rings will be broken. On even before that so unless the build used chrome or unfaced cast iron rings I wouldn't worry about if
as for what was reccomended for our cars originally. Well ring technology has come a long way since then. If you aren't burning any oil now then your rings are likely as broken in as they are going to get
again IMO
as for what was reccomended for our cars originally. Well ring technology has come a long way since then. If you aren't burning any oil now then your rings are likely as broken in as they are going to get
again IMO
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 453
Likes: 1
From: Austin TX
When I rebuilt my 406 a few years ago I ended up doing a lot of idling around after the cam breakin. I was trying to fine tune the timing and I had a little fuel leak so I did quite a bit of watching it run to make sure I wouldn't catch on fire from another small leak popping up. Sometime during this process it started to puff a little smoke out the exhaust so I took it out on the road and put it through it's power range, even full throttle. No more smoke after that. You need different ranges of pressure to seat the rings properly but I wouldn't worry too much about a specific agenda to do that, just drive it.
