piston rings?

[Mike Pearson]

Total Seal can sell you oil rings in several different tensions. To fine tune the tension you bend the end of the expander to either tighten of loosen the tension

[Myron Piatek]

For reference for the OP, I found "standard" tension rings to be in the 18-24lb range.


I've also used the fish scale gauge to check the drag of the oil ring using the "dynamic" method. Like most gauges, weather stations, etc., the calibration will vary, plus other factors. So I use the same one for my comparisons. "Your results may vary."

[Mike Miljanovic]

Trying to get back in Stock after a 15 year lay-off (shifter-kart/stock car racing with my son), so I am a little out of date. I used to use discarded standard bore oil spacers with .030 over rails, giving 8-9 lbs vertical pull(wet), with no smoke. On LS6's, using deck plates did not make a difference on the pull. Is that still acceptable today?
Also, has anyone tried installing empty heads & hand-honing from the bottom with the block upside down? I experimented with that once long ago & ended up smashing my hone (gave up!).
What is the current upper ring combo today, or is that a big secret? Last time, I used a Dykes upper ring with a back-cut 2nd backed up with a spacer.
Thanks for any help.

[Coleydog]

Originally Posted by Mike Miljanovic

Trying to get back in Stock after a 15 year lay-off (shifter-kart/stock car racing with my son), so I am a little out of date. I used to use discarded standard bore oil spacers with .030 over rails, giving 8-9 lbs vertical pull(wet), with no smoke. On LS6's, using deck plates did not make a difference on the pull. Is that still acceptable today?
Also, has anyone tried installing empty heads & hand-honing from the bottom with the block upside down? I experimented with that once long ago & ended up smashing my hone (gave up!).
What is the current upper ring combo today, or is that a big secret? Last time, I used a Dykes upper ring with a back-cut 2nd backed up with a spacer.
Thanks for any help.

Funny you should mention honing with the head on. I've contemplated taking a hole saw to a junk head, cutting all four holes right through the head. To me this would be better than a hone plate

[randy wilson]

Originally Posted by high winder

How do you remove the tension on your oil ring ?

The old style rings we used to crimp with needle nose pliers till we got the desired amount of tension. I've also ran a smaller bore expander then the actual bore. Others may have better ideas, but I was happy with my results.

[Kdw1403]

keith at total seal said he had 3 packages. 5lb,11lb, and 13 pound. for the 4mm oil ring that lt1s have to run i might have to go with the 11lb ones. any thoughts anyone?

[Myron Piatek]

With my limited experience, I believe that anything much lower than 11 lbs would probably work better with vac-u-pan system or vacuum pump, which aren't legal for Stock. As mentioned earlier, ring seal and life is influenced by the precision of machine work and maintaining round cylinders.

[older racer]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

With my limited experience, I believe that anything much lower than 11 lbs would probably work better with vac-u-pan system or vacuum pump, which aren't legal for Stock. As mentioned earlier, ring seal and life is influenced by the precision of machine work and maintaining round cylinders.

I find you have to use a napier second ring with lower tension oil rings. you can run 6 # oils with napier and engine will run dry. without vac pan setup. breathers only. been using this in small block mopars last number of years. wall finish can impact results also.