Budget 390 FE Engine Build Checking Ring End Gap

We have an interesting theory on piston-ring selection. Not everyone shares this opinion, so get ready. There's a developing belief that you should use gapless rings in the top groove and conventional rings in the second groove. This helps cylinder sealing while keeping oil travel and friction where they belong. We invite all theories. Peart checks ring-end gap, which should be 0.010-0.031 inch (ideally in the middle of this range) for top rings and 0.010-0.020 inch (again in the middle) for secondary rings. Ring gaps are adjusted on a special grinder. Did you know only the top ring is a compression ring? Secondary rings are actually oil rings, which carry oil up the wall. Bottom rings wipe oil down the wall.

Budget FE Power! - Part 1 in a Two-Part Series

We have an interesting theory on piston-ring selection. Not everyone shares this opinion, so get ready. There's a developing belief that you should use gapless rings in the top groove and conventional rings in the second groove. This helps cylinder sealing while keeping oil travel and friction where they belong. We invite all theories. Peart checks ring-end gap, which should be 0.010-0.031 inch (ideally in the middle of this range) for top rings and 0.010-0.020 inch (again in the middle) for secondary rings. Ring gaps are adjusted on a special grinder. Did you know only the top ring is a compression ring? Secondary rings are actually oil rings, which carry oil up the wall. Bottom rings wipe oil down the wall. View Related Article