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feeler guage and ring gap #1208366 04/02/12 05:15 PM 04/02/12 05:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 110 S.E. WI A allmopar OP member
allmopar OP member A Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 110 S.E. WI	I am filing my rings and and checking the gap in the cylinder bore. What is the proper way to check the ring gap with a feeler guage. Find the right thickness guage that has a smooth fit by itself in the gap or use your finger to gently push the guage into the gap. If you push the guage into the gap with your finger you can get the next thicker size guage to fit into the gap.

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: allmopar] #1208367 04/02/12 05:34 PM 04/02/12 05:34 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion T Thumperdart I Live Here
Thumperdart I Live Here T Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 19,317 State of confusion	I don`t get all caught up in the resistance it takes and the same w/setting the valves. I go for a fairly snug feel w/out killing my fingers and making the job harder than it needs to be. What`s a .001 diff anyhow. 72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: Thumperdart] #1208368 04/02/12 05:38 PM 04/02/12 05:38 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Quote: I don`t get all caught up in the resistance it takes and the same w/setting the valves. I go for a fairly snug feel w/out killing my fingers and making the job harder than it needs to be. What`s a .001 diff anyhow. ... just some drag is all I do

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: Thumperdart] #1208369 04/02/12 05:40 PM 04/02/12 05:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,407 Ambridge, Pa. R rickraw top fuel
rickraw top fuel R Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,407 Ambridge, Pa.	u want the ring about 1" down in the bore with snug feeler fit.

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1208370 04/02/12 05:40 PM 04/02/12 05:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 19,363 Las Vegas Al_Alguire I Live Here
Al_Alguire I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 19,363 Las Vegas	I agree with Dom, dont overthink it. Consistency is more important in the way you do it rather than how tight the feeler gauge is. "I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know." "It's never wrong to do the right thing"

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1208371 04/02/12 05:58 PM 04/02/12 05:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,606 westerly, ri. usa 4 440lebaron top fuel
440lebaron top fuel 4 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,606 westerly, ri. usa	6 people will get 7 differant readings, like they said keep it simple Last edited by 440lebaron; 04/02/12 05:58 PM. all parts are sold as is, all parts are considered used no warranties or returns paypal/check/money order, shipping is from zip 02891, buyer pays paypal fees 24% IRS 1099A plus 3% of part price, check/money order preferred site is not monitored 24/7 there might be a delay in response

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: 440lebaron] #1208372 04/02/12 09:32 PM 04/02/12 09:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az Crizila master
Crizila master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az	I would suggest investing in a ring squaring tool though - if you want real good consistancy with your measurements. Fastest 300

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: Crizila] #1208373 04/02/12 10:05 PM 04/02/12 10:05 PM
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,410 Belpre,Ohio C CHAPPER master
CHAPPER master C Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,410 Belpre,Ohio	Quote: I would suggest investing in a ring squaring tool though - if you want real good consistancy with your measurements. Roll of masking tape the size of bore,,minus a small amount, does a good job. If you like drag racing, support your local track.

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: CHAPPER] #1208374 04/02/12 10:28 PM 04/02/12 10:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 110 S.E. WI A allmopar OP member
allmopar OP member A Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 110 S.E. WI	Thanks guys for the tips, Consistancy and medium pressure with the guage. I am using a piston upside down with a ring in the 2nd groove to push the ring in the cylinder straight.

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: allmopar] #1208375 04/02/12 10:44 PM 04/02/12 10:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 914 tn R robnbird super stock
robnbird super stock R Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 914 tn	Quote: Thanks guys for the tips, Consistancy and medium pressure with the guage. I am using a piston upside down with a ring in the 2nd groove to push the ring in the cylinder straight. YOU CAN HAVE 100% CONFIDENVE IN JUST THE WAY YOU ARE DOING THE JOB. 7148814-mocar.jpg (30 downloads)

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: allmopar] #1208376 04/02/12 11:29 PM 04/02/12 11:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,042 Mooresburg, Tn ' '72CudaRacer top fuel
'72CudaRacer top fuel ' Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,042 Mooresburg, Tn	Quote: I am using a piston upside down with a ring in the 2nd groove to push the ring in the cylinder straight. That is exactly how I do it. Just use a old stock flat top piston. Stock bore piston still works well, even in a .060" over block. Brian Dunnigan

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: '72CudaRacer] #1208377 04/02/12 11:57 PM 04/02/12 11:57 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 20,174 PA. pittsburghracer "Little"John
pittsburghracer "Little"John Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 20,174 PA.	I bought one of these and really like the way it works. My son Matt was using it tonight fitting the rings for his new engine. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-906002/ 1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27 Livin and lovin life one day at a time

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: allmopar] #1208378 04/03/12 12:27 AM 04/03/12 12:27 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,185 Bend,OR USA C Cab_Burge I Win
Cab_Burge I Win C Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,185 Bend,OR USA	Quote: Thanks guys for the tips, Consistancy and medium pressure with the guage. I am using a piston upside down with a ring in the 2nd groove to push the ring in the cylinder straight. One of the old Mopar Gods told me to MAKE sure the rings where square in the bore and file them tight enough to where the feeler gauge would barely go in, I did that for while when i was racing my M.W. 426 stocker. Now I make sure the piston rings are square in the bore and the feeler gauge, .020 or .021 for the top ring will barely go in without hurting my fingers but the next size bigger won't go in no matter how hard I push on it I have buggered up a buch of rings and cylinder walls over the years by having NOT ENOUGH ring gap .005 to big is way better than .0005 to small when it comes to ring gaps Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: pittsburghracer] #1208379 04/03/12 02:26 AM 04/03/12 02:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,875 communist bloc of new jersey J jamesc master
jamesc master J Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,875 communist bloc of new jersey	Quote: I bought one of these and really like the way it works. My son Matt was using it tonight fitting the rings for his new engine. i have one of those and one of these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-906000/ they both work well and are pretty nice usa quality. also for deburring the ends of the rings a diamond nail file works nice

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: jamesc] #1208380 04/03/12 10:26 AM 04/03/12 10:26 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O 70Cuda383 Too Many Posts
70Cuda383 Too Many Posts Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O	apparently you do want a "snug" fit to know the accurate size of the gap. I always used a "smooth" feel. I can drop the feeler gauge in, it doens't wiggle side to side at all, and I can slide it up and down against the cylinder wall, through the gap, and it "glides" through. when I talked to the tech guy at KB, he told me that my gaps would actually be a bit bigger than what I was measuring because of how I was measuring. oh well. too big on ring gaps are better than too small. Plus, I think I've seen some write ups from different builders online who say that they've noticed no loss in Hp with as much as a .060" ring gap Photobucket sucks

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: Cab_Burge] #1208381 04/03/12 11:23 AM 04/03/12 11:23 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az Crizila master
Crizila master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,506 Az	Quote: Quote: Thanks guys for the tips, Consistancy and medium pressure with the guage. I am using a piston upside down with a ring in the 2nd groove to push the ring in the cylinder straight. One of the old Mopar Gods told me to MAKE sure the rings where square in the bore and file them tight enough to where the feeler gauge would barely go in, I did that for while when i was racing my M.W. 426 stocker. Now I make sure the piston rings are square in the bore and the feeler gauge, .020 or .021 for the top ring will barely go in without hurting my fingers but the next size bigger won't go in no matter how hard I push on it I have buggered up a buch of rings and cylinder walls over the years by having NOT ENOUGH ring gap .005 to big is way better than .0005 to small when it comes to ring gaps For sure on the last sentence . I use a ring squaring tool made by PRC. I like it cause I can reach through the middle and actually pull the ring up against the tool to make sure it is square to the bore. 7149435-ringsquaringtool.jpg (21 downloads) Fastest 300

Re: feeler guage and ring gap [Re: 70Cuda383] #1208382 04/03/12 12:41 PM 04/03/12 12:41 PM
Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 3,888 Oregon hooziewhatsit master
hooziewhatsit master Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 3,888 Oregon	Quote: oh well. too big on ring gaps are better than too small. Plus, I think I've seen some write ups from different builders online who say that they've noticed no loss in Hp with as much as a .060" ring gap With a 4.030" bore, a 0.020" ring gap is ~0.11% of the total circumference. A 0.080" ring gap is ~0.63%. If that 0.5% difference is enough to kill the overall power... something else is wrong As long as they're big enough they don't butt together during operation, I'd say you're good to go. If you ever find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

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