brharris27370

I see pistons with 5/64 rings and some with 1/16 rings. Do the 5/64 wear longer or is that info just relevant for ordering the rings to go with the pistons?

snakeskinner

Shooting from the hip here but I would imagine a wider ring does its job better but causes more friction. different pistons use different rings. Most lower end pistons use stock rings and hi-perf. pistons usually have the different style rings. maybe someone else has more knowledge on this subject than I.

------------------
Kyle Osterholt
Okarche, Oklahoma
ASE Master Certified
86 T/A 383 TPI
89 TTA #1002 T-top/Leather
89 TTA #1358 Hardtop/Leather
80 T/A Pace Car
73 Opel GT
73 bronco
2000 Ducati 996 Monoposto
83 MSE #52

RB83L69

You can't put a 5/64" ring in a 1/16" groove, or vice-versa. You have to use rings that match your pistons.

Narrower rings seal better since their outward spring tension is concentrated into a smaller area, but they tend not to last as long on the street. If you're building a street motor stick with pistons that use the wider ring.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited November 29, 2001).]

brharris27370

I understand that part. I just wondering if 1/16" rings wore twice as fast as 5/64 rings. That sort of thing. I don't want to get one and then 30k miles later wish I had bought the other. I am trying to get as many questions answered BEFORE I order my parts so I don't end up with trouble. I feel crate motors are just too expensive for what you get. I could be wrong.

RB83L69

Twice as fast is probably a good rough first-pass estimate. So, 50k miles would probably be considered a reasonable maximum design lifetime for them. But, since they also wear the walls faster too, it's only that same # of miles to re-bore time; and if your block is already out to the max, then guess what, it's also new block time.

All in all, I would recommend sticking with the wider rings for the street, if the car is anticipated to be used for any significant amount of "daily driver" type of use. The small improvement in performance comes at a rather high cost that's not in immediate $$$, so you don't realize it until later.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

brharris27370

That is the type of answer I am looking for.

82camaro

At 1/64 difference between the two, I doubt it would make a huge difference. In a street car, stick with the thicker ones.


------------------
350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro