5.0 ring gap

aaronsmith · Feb 18, 2014

i guess i can put this post here? so im currently rebuilding a motor i got out of a 97 explorer to put in my ranger im having some issues with the ring gap. i got the rings from advance auto parts... the readings i was getting were crazy like .026 .022 so i took the set back and got a new one this one is better like im getting more into spec but one is out to .022 the question im trying to ask is how far out of spec can i go? I did use a piston to get them straight in the cylinder also the spec is .010 to .020 to Haynes and Chilton

dangerranger83 · Feb 18, 2014

Do remember the cylinder walls are probably not in factory specs and are a bit larger to put the ring gaps out of specs.

Also as the cylinder walls wear down in a engine with the closets at a slant, it tends to wear them in an oblong egg shape so where you measure the gap will depend on that too.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

85_Ranger4x4 · Feb 18, 2014

Spec is spec because it works.

There is a process to adjust them to make them wider but not really shorter. How do the bores measure as far as spec go? May be too worn to do a rering by the book.

The spec is measured with the rings in the bores so it takes any wear into account. There is no fudge factor for it not being a new engine.

A few years ago we had a guy hose a new set of sleeves because he thought it was "close enough" We had to eat a new sleeve/piston kit AND the labor to tear it back down because "close" wasn't close enough.

aaronsmith · Feb 18, 2014

i know i could file them but like i said the spec is .010 to .020 and one of them is .022 if i file it ill make it bigger... oh yea and its not a new block... so what should i do?

aaronsmith · Feb 18, 2014

i don't have a cylinder bore gage so i couldn't tell you i guess that would be the first thing to do.... but the thing is that first set was messed up so what are the chances that this one is messed up.... oh yea i also had the motor honed but i didn't thing that took that much material off...

alwaysFlOoReD · Feb 18, 2014

When you had it honed the machine shop should have taken measurements. Ask them what they were.

Richard

Jbrown1238 · Feb 18, 2014

Try moving your rings around, you will probably find a cylinder that will tighten up that wide ring gap. You can also spin it slightly in the bore, if you only honed the cylinders chances are you will be able to find a "happy" location. .002 isn't far out, I bet you can find a home for it in another cylinder.

aaronsmith · Feb 18, 2014

alright ill give them a call tomorrow when they open and see what they say... ill try what you say tonight and see what happens

aaronsmith · Feb 18, 2014

Ok so here is what i got after moving around and switching rings around...
#1 .022
#2 .022
#3 .022
#6 .021
#7 .021
#8 .022
1st #5 was .020 now its .025
1st #4 was .024 now its .022
so i think that this ring set has been filed already... this is supposed to be a standard set maybe i should get the over sized kit... idk...

Jbrown1238 · Feb 18, 2014

aaronsmith said:
Ok so here is what i got after moving around and switching rings around...
#1 .022
#2 .022
#3 .022
#6 .021
#7 .021
#8 .022
1st #5 was .020 now its .025
1st #4 was .024 now its .022
so i think that this ring set has been filed already... this is supposed to be a standard set maybe i should get the over sized kit... idk...

Try switching #4 and #5 with #6 and #7. Are you checking these parts at the same temp as the block? Example, did the block sit outside or in a garage over night and the rings inside at room temp?

Jbrown1238 · Feb 18, 2014

aaronsmith said:
Ok so here is what i got after moving around and switching rings around...
#1 .022
#2 .022
#3 .022
#6 .021
#7 .021
#8 .022
1st #5 was .020 now its .025
1st #4 was .024 now its .022
so i think that this ring set has been filed already... this is supposed to be a standard set maybe i should get the over sized kit... idk...

Try switching #4 and #5 with #6 and #7. Are you checking these parts at the same temp as the block? Example, did the block sit outside or in a garage over night and the rings inside at room temp? Same with your measuring tools.

aaronsmith · Feb 18, 2014

everything is inside my house at a constant temp

aaronsmith · Mar 11, 2014

ok so i finally got some free time and i did what you said jbrown and i swapped #5 & #6 and it just seemed to chase on another so now #6 is .025 and #5 is .021... so i think something is up with the ring set i got... oh yea and i called the guys that honed the block and they said they didnt take any measurements so now im stuck... im guessing what i have to do is get a bore gauge and measure it myself then take it from there? or do i swap the set i got for a third time and see if that will work?

Jbrown1238 · Mar 11, 2014

The most affordable dial bore gauge I found was about $35.00 on eBay. You may want to bite the bullet and spend that money on another set of the same rings. Then from that set select the few that you need to fill the remaining bores. You will probably find two from that set that will bring you into spec. It is a gamble but probably the best option. Or if you are comfortable you can get a set of file fit rings and dial them in. Your specs are very close.

5.0 ring gap

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