tongue.gif Wondering if anyone is around today in the area , Im working on quite a few things, mainly getting the piston rings in correctly. I could use someone to double check this stuff graemlins/beers.gif

Did that piston ring compressor work out for ya okay? I do have a professional quality one you could borrow.

Ahhh now you got to me smile.gif Thanks hill, I spent all night checking clearances and reading numerous times. This piece of junk cheapy from Kragen sucks, It never holds in the outter rings for the oil spreader ring, I eventually got them all in. All but one piston... yes I broke a ring before I started. I'll have to call around tomorrow.

Originally posted by pnutkemist:
Ahhh now you got to me smile.gif Thanks hill, I spent all night checking clearances and reading numerous times. This piece of junk cheapy from Kragen sucks, It never holds in the outter rings for the oil spreader ring, I eventually got them all in. All but one piston... yes I broke a ring before I started. I'll have to call around tomorrow. Yeah I was at Sunrise P-N-P all day pulling engines in the rain. I'm a sucker for 1/2 off day graemlins/sad.gif

Might have a hard time finding a set for a single piston and remember they do work as a team. Don't mix and match on the same piston. For some piece of mind you might want to chalk this one up as a learning experience and do it over. The other rings might have taken a beating as well. Get the orange rubber mallet from HF, and make damn sure all the rings are compressed properly and just lightly tap those babies home. If it don't go, re-compress. That's the last thing you want to worry about later down the road.

Did you buy the high dollar stuff??? Boken Brothers here in Sacto would have good quality molly rebuilder rings for about $30, or mail order like "Northern Auto" is pretty cheap.

Do you have the "how to rebuild the SB Chevy" book? It's more of a by the numbers book then the BB book. Have both open at the same time along with the factory service manual.

I commend you for diving in, where most wouldn't dare but do you homework. If your learning then the extra expense makes it all worth it and much more rewarding. Ya might want to take a breather and read the "how to" books a few times, I always do before my next build.

I just ordered a replacement ring, I couldnt tell I thought it had a hairline crack in it when I pulled it out. It didnt break while installing it just broke when I was looking and "playing with it" hah.. But yes, it busted on me. I was going to have Bokan Brothers do the shortblock, they assemble all the engines for Tognottis here in Sac, which is where Im workin' Alot of places dont want to assemble blocks if it isnt there parts from the get go. I really wanted to do it though, theresa alot of stuff I wanted to learn about. There is the risk though, but we'll see. As for the rings, they all compressed and went in great, they sound and flow up and down perfectly, all but the one thats not in yet. Gaps facing correct directions and all that...

Originally posted by pnutkemist:
I just ordered a replacement ring, I couldnt tell I thought it had a hairline crack in it when I pulled it out. It didnt break while installing it just broke when I was looking and "playing with it" hah.. But yes, it busted on me. I was going to have Bokan Brothers do the shortblock, they assemble all the engines for Tognottis here in Sac, which is where Im workin' Alot of places dont want to assemble blocks if it isnt there parts from the get go. I really wanted to do it though, theresa alot of stuff I wanted to learn about. There is the risk though, but we'll see. As for the rings, they all compressed and went in great, they sound and flow up and down perfectly, all but the one thats not in yet. Gaps facing correct directions and all that... Glad to hear graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif