Piston ring interchangabliity and questions
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Camp Verde AZ
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Piston ring interchangabliity and questions
Looking for 4.000" ring set for a 327 3866954 piston (forged, 11:1 comp).
This piston has a 5/64" first and second ring and 3/16" oil rings.
Did teh original rings have both comp rings moly filled, or just the top ring?
I see GM has a couple diferent ring sets, one for use on the LT1/LT4 motor (12528817)
And for the ZZ2/ZZ3 motor, ring set 14089025, replaced by 88894219.
Are these ring sets 5/64, 5/64 and 3/16" and if so, any reason why they shouldn't work on my pistons?
The original rings on the .327 had .187" radial width, I don't know if tehse LT1 rings have a different radial width, not.
I see the 817 ring boasts a positive twist feature for over 6000 RPM use, and is low tension.
Not sure if both comp rings are moly filled on the above sets, but I believe original factory rings had both comp moly rings,
I see most if not all hotrod/aftermarket ring sets have moly top ring, but plain cast iron second comp ring, Looks like an inferior replacment, but is it?
Any other suggestions for a high RPM capable ring set?
Thanks,
Doug
This piston has a 5/64" first and second ring and 3/16" oil rings.
Did teh original rings have both comp rings moly filled, or just the top ring?
I see GM has a couple diferent ring sets, one for use on the LT1/LT4 motor (12528817)
And for the ZZ2/ZZ3 motor, ring set 14089025, replaced by 88894219.
Are these ring sets 5/64, 5/64 and 3/16" and if so, any reason why they shouldn't work on my pistons?
The original rings on the .327 had .187" radial width, I don't know if tehse LT1 rings have a different radial width, not.
I see the 817 ring boasts a positive twist feature for over 6000 RPM use, and is low tension.
Not sure if both comp rings are moly filled on the above sets, but I believe original factory rings had both comp moly rings,
I see most if not all hotrod/aftermarket ring sets have moly top ring, but plain cast iron second comp ring, Looks like an inferior replacment, but is it?
Any other suggestions for a high RPM capable ring set?
Thanks,
Doug
Last edited by AZDoug; Mar 21, 2007 at 02:04 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 993
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
If it were me I would look into a gapless set of rings. We have run many different brands of these and have had zero problems in many forms of racing engines. Generally on the sprint cars we would run the top a standard file fit and the bottom (2nd) ring as the gapless. We have also had good luck on street/strip engines with the top ring being file fit and gapless, so you really can't go wrong. What we love about these rings is that they tend to give us a hp gain and also a vac. boost; not much but every little bit helps! I wouldn't worry too much about the original design; we have come a long ways in the past few years with engine tech. Get set that fits the lands (5/64, 5/64, 3/16)and fit em up for each cylinder!
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
Looking for 4.000" ring set for a 327 3866954 piston (forged, 11:1 comp).
This piston has a 5/64" first and second ring and 3/16" oil rings.
Did teh original rings have both comp rings moly filled, or just the top ring?
I see GM has a couple diferent ring sets, one for use on the LT1/LT4 motor (12528817)
And for the ZZ2/ZZ3 motor, ring set 14089025, replaced by 88894219.
Are these ring sets 5/64, 5/64 and 3/16" and if so, any reason why they shouldn't work on my pistons?
The original rings on the .327 had .187" radial width, I don't know if tehse LT1 rings have a different radial width, not.
I see the 817 ring boasts a positive twist feature for over 6000 RPM use, and is low tension.
Not sure if both comp rings are moly filled on the above sets, but I believe original factory rings had both comp moly rings,
I see most if not all hotrod/aftermarket ring sets have moly top ring, but plain cast iron second comp ring, Looks like an inferior replacment, but is it?
Any other suggestions for a high RPM capable ring set?
Thanks,
Doug
This piston has a 5/64" first and second ring and 3/16" oil rings.
Did teh original rings have both comp rings moly filled, or just the top ring?
I see GM has a couple diferent ring sets, one for use on the LT1/LT4 motor (12528817)
And for the ZZ2/ZZ3 motor, ring set 14089025, replaced by 88894219.
Are these ring sets 5/64, 5/64 and 3/16" and if so, any reason why they shouldn't work on my pistons?
The original rings on the .327 had .187" radial width, I don't know if tehse LT1 rings have a different radial width, not.
I see the 817 ring boasts a positive twist feature for over 6000 RPM use, and is low tension.
Not sure if both comp rings are moly filled on the above sets, but I believe original factory rings had both comp moly rings,
I see most if not all hotrod/aftermarket ring sets have moly top ring, but plain cast iron second comp ring, Looks like an inferior replacment, but is it?
Any other suggestions for a high RPM capable ring set?
Thanks,
Doug
For any kind of higher horsepower application, I recommend a ductile iron moly faced top ring with a cast second and a good 3 piece oil ring. This will work for just about anything but some real heavy nitrous or forced induction applications.
If you are not running any nitrous, then I would run either the Speed-Pro race rings or, for less money and the same item, the Total Seal Classic Race Rings. Both are a ductile top, cast second and three piece oil and both are available in file-fit or non file-fit.
If you are going to hit it with nitrous, I'd use the Total Seal TNT rings or their AP ring sets. If you have a good positive valve seal and do not have valve guides that are spiral knurled, then you may want to try a gapless top. I do not recommend the gapless second ring as there may be some oil control issues there.
I hope that helped a little.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Rings Conventional vs. Gapless
To the best of my knowledge most of the people building decent engines do not use gapless rings. They seem to cause more problems than they fix.
In the case above the standard E251k ring set will go past the 100,000 mile mark so long as the maintenance is correct.
Most race engines today will use gas-ported pistons and back-cut 043 stainless rings. Still a popular combination.
Speed pro rings work fine with or without nitrous. Ran a set of R9343s for 8 years in a 400 sb as part of a test for Felpro head gaskets with a 250+ nitrous system. Gaskets lasted 4 years and rings made the 8. Gaskets did not go bad either, Felpro took them back to examine after 4 years. This is all on a street and strip car.
Harry P. Hunter
In the case above the standard E251k ring set will go past the 100,000 mile mark so long as the maintenance is correct.
Most race engines today will use gas-ported pistons and back-cut 043 stainless rings. Still a popular combination.
Speed pro rings work fine with or without nitrous. Ran a set of R9343s for 8 years in a 400 sb as part of a test for Felpro head gaskets with a 250+ nitrous system. Gaskets lasted 4 years and rings made the 8. Gaskets did not go bad either, Felpro took them back to examine after 4 years. This is all on a street and strip car.
Harry P. Hunter
