Ring Gap
 

What's the consensus on gapping your rings for boost?

I've enjoyed my 99 with ~9 psi AA P-1sc on stock longblock with BTR springs, pushrods and a trunion upgrade. Never broke the engine open past the valve covers. The car has run fine in all conditions thus far without incident and has been a daily driver often in good weather.

I recently added an 03 Z to the stable and have to pull the heads to replace a collapsed lifter. While I'm in there, I plan to change cam / lifters / pushrods but I have not yet decided whether to keep this car's current unknown boost (I bought an unfinished product) AA V3Ti kit, or sell that and pursue a mild turbo build. This car has PRC 225 heads with 62cc chambers. If I stay SC it may get the Jam Cam or the AA SC cam from BTR. If turbo, perhaps Sloppy Stage 2.

I hear conflicting information on gapping the rings. Some say it is a must. Others say the engines last a long time as they are. My experience and knowing others is that the stock engines do last a long time *with safe tunes*. And I am one to err in favor of safety and leave power on the table. This LS6 will likely be seeing a lot more power than the LS1 I've had though.

So I put it to those who have run big numbers through their cars. Do I need to yank the engine and gap the rings on a 63k mile LS6, or send it?

I am leaning on the send it choice. Fight me.

As long as you have meth injection...send it:)

or e85;)

Heck yes. I just need to swap it (and a lot of other gear) from the 99 to the 03. I run a 50/50 mix of water with M5.

If it's already out and apart, I sure would. Especially if you plan to run much more than 10psi.

That's about where I'm stopping. I run that on the stock LS1. With the built LS6.... 10psi would be making more than I want to with factory drivetrain at present, even with an RXT in place. I am thinking I would want to at least upgrade the half shafts if I went that far. But maybe I end up going with a milder cam and maintain similar 9psi. I'll have to decide this week.