My question is simple.

Can I purchase a set of pre-gapped piston rings, and file on those if I need to? Or can you Only file on "file to fit rings"?

 

You can file the pre-gapped rings but what I've ran across is that usually the pre-gapped rings are on the edge of having too much gap after the machine shop gets done.

 

the "normal" pre-gapped ready to run rings are cheapest, and typically have a good "stock" gap (~.018" top ring on a .030" over 350). I enlarge that a lot with a needle file myself.
You definately CAN gap pre-gapped rings.
http://www.kb-silvolite.com/test/art...n=read&A_id=32

Keith Black has an article (which I can't find right now), showing that a large ring gap will NOT cause excessive oil consumption, but will help avoid butting rings together under high temps.

 

Excellent! This was always a question in the back of my mind, and i couldnt get a for sure answer. Now i know. I always purchase the pre gapped from sealed power and have had gaps on both sets ive purchased at .016 for top and bottom and left them alone. Bad i know since bottom should be larger. Im curious if theres any ring butting. Theres 7k on the motor so far and i drive it hard. .016 is ok for top ring According to the formula for ring gaps and bore size, with no power adder but probly not for the bottom all because i didnt no any better.

 

The whole idea of second ring having a larger gap than top rings seems to be a matter of opinion. I'm SURE i've seen conflicting stories about it. I put my top one to .025" and my second to .028" or so, and let it be. I may use a 150hp shot of nitrous down the line, and this way i'm safer than sorry eh. Nitrous or extended high RPM racing is what would cause your rings to butt. Normal street driving and you can use the normal street gap I suppose.