I'm trying to assemble my 350 after I put new bearing and rings on it and when I try to put the #1 piston in it goes down to the oil rings and stops but my rings are compressed and it doesn't look like they're stopping the piston from going in.
This is the spring compressor I'm using http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WMR-W80574/ Should I be looking for a better one?
EDIT: I've rebuilt 1 other engine before using the same ring compressor

 

although that might work? id get a better ring compresser.

 

They best ring compressors are the tapered 1 piece.... I cannot believe I did not buy them along time ago... I always used my snapon adustable... Hands down no comparison
Ps my forged 383 SRP set with 2.5 rings would not compress with the adustable

 

It's one of the worst types I've ever used.

Agree with the tapered type recommendation.

 

So how about this one? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-904000/

 

That's the way to go.

If your engine is still stock bore, that's the one to get.

 

Yup it is, I just put new rings and bearings on it

 

Ok after some more trial and error I have determined the problem is the oil rings. The expander has little bumps that keep the rings from compressing. Should they have those? Or is it some sort of defect? The bottom oil ring is catching and keeping the piston from entering the bore so I'm pretty sure I don't need a new compressor although that might help. In the second picture, I'm trying to compress the oil rings as much as I can with my fingers. Oh and these are the rings I bought http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-133-139-00/

 

Does that work for your pistons? I'm thinking the oil groove in your pistons isn't deep enough for those oil rings.

 

I agree that the first ring compressor is a piece of junk. I don't use a tapered installer since they're only good for one size only. I work with a lot of different size bores. The style I use isn't listed in Summit or Jegs.

The style I use is from KD Tools or Lisle Tools and looks like this.

http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=79

 

Ugh, I can't stand those.

I like the ratcheting-plier-and-band type.

 

I bet that's it. I bought those rings in a kit and thought they'd work. So I need to find some with a thinner grove then I guess?

 

After calling tech support and chatting with them for about an hour I found out I need ones like these. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SLP-E-377K/ which are about twice the price and since I already put the rings I have, on one of my pistons I can't return them which I think is a load of bull...

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-SBC-5-...ht_1521wt_1032

good price maybe able to get it cheaper, says make offer !!

 

if the ring gaps not correct your engine could easily get screwed up, and fitting the piston in the bore could be darn near impossible in some cases without damaging the piston or rings

read thru the linked info it could save you a great deal of time effort and money

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...php?f=53&t=247

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...php?f=53&t=852

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...hp?f=53&t=3897

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...php?f=53&t=509

 

Thanks but I already ordered the new ones. My pistons have a shallow oil groove so I had to buy ones that were .165 wide instead of the .200 that I had.

 

How so?

Explain why it's Summit's problem that you ordered the wrong rings, and they should take back something that is now no longer saleable on account of something YOU did.

If the rings didn't fit because of something THEY did, it would be a different story. But THEY gave YOU all the info you needed in order to make an informed and intelligent decision, but you DIDN'T. Instead, you bought the cheeeeeeeepest thing on the page that said "rings", and didn't read the measurements they gave, and tried to install it anyway, and it didn't fit. Not their problem.

Frankly if I had sold you the cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepie rings and gave you all the specs like they did and you tried to put them in on the wrong pistons, I wouldn't take them back either.

I hate to say it, but you just learned a lesson ... the hard way. Like MANY such lessons MANY of us here have already learned. Next time, ASK what to use, BEFORE you buy; learn from our EXPENSIVE lessons learned over periods of MANY decades from some of us, FOR FREE.

 

Burning a set of rings is one of the cheapest "hard" lessons you'll ever have in the hobby. ;-)

 

True dat...

I recall one engine it took 3 sets before I quit screwing up. I felt like an idiot for voluntarily paying the dumb-a$$ tax TWICE. ON THE SAME MISTAKE.

Trust us, these things aren't always as clear-cut as you wish they were. Lots of details to research before opening packages. Like the guys that frame houses say... "measure twice, cut once".

 

Yeah I definitely learned my lesson but it didn't give the ring info in the kit info so I figured it would work. The reason I think they should have taken them back is that I only put rings on one piston so all of the other I didn't even touch.

 

Nobody needs 7 oil rings.

I've got a spare set laying around too... That's what I get for trusting summits listings. My advice? Know exactly what part number you want before even logging on to summit.
I decided to change directions in the middle of my build and had to order up a new set of pistons. Summits listing spec'd the same ring package, but when I was ready to do the final assembly, they wouldn't fit in the ring groove. Cost me 3 days and $80.