I am rebuiding an engine for the first time in 35 years. I am trying to be careful.

If you put the rings in upside down, can this cause problems?

I know that the second (thick) compression ring has a dot that must be mounted on top.

I cannot tell that one side is any different from the other for the thin compression ring. Is there a difference between top and bottom for this ring?

The oil ring has some little etching on one side and not on the other. Does this imply that one side is top and the other bottom? How about the rings that go over and under the oil ring?

I appreciate any help that might prevent me from doing someting disasterous.

Regards,

George Clay

 

I've been told all marks and bevels go up. I've rebuilt 4 engines and on only 2 sets of rings were there marks and/or bevels. The ones without marks apparently can go in either way. I have had no problems to date with any of the engines.

 

+1 Of the engines I have built all marks go up. and I always staggered the alignment so if you wre looking at the engine from the front the number 1 top ring would face left and then the second ring would face right etc etc

 

Yeah. Probably should've added that. I 180deg the 2 compression rings. I even 180deg the two oiling rings which concurrently are 45deg to the compression rings.
Kinda like 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock for each opening of the rings.

 

Thanks,

It would be really bad to put a lot of work(and money) into the engine, only to have it fail, because I put the rings in wrong.

I plan on following the diagram for stagering the rings.

I am guessing, that only the thick compression ring has a top/and bottom.




Regards,

George Clay

 

I've been doing a lot of research on all the little "tips & details" I'd need to know to build my 383, & here's one of the little things I've found...

I'd think that the top two rings would rotate at a different, probably faster rate than the bottom (oil) ring, but as long as they're 180° or so apart, they should rarely if ever line up...