gathering info for my la 360 build. who do you recommend for piston rings on a street/performance build. ill be running stock bottm end, kb 107 pistons and around 9.5-10.0 compression. tis not a race engine. any suggestions on who's rings to use.

I'd say most any plasma moly brand & w KB's no need for the extra expense of file fit (.005" OS rings) as KB's need a greater top ring gap.

i talked to hastings rep the other day, they sound like they have pretty good plasma moly ring set for the 107s. they said there is an 80$ diff in the set w/cast top ring, and the set w/ductile top ring...(i.e. street vs race)

yes the moly set is actually a "single" moly set w a moly top ring and a cast 2nd ring as opposed to the cheaper ones that the 1st & 2nd rings are both cast. He said their single Moly set is $80 more than a set of cast ones?. I have not priced rings in awhile but you might check Mancini jegs etc & see if you can scare up a better price for a set of (single) Moly rings.

what about speed-pro sealed power? had a couple of engine builders recommend them. builders aer saying the hastings rings are like "a bore in a box"...i want something that is gonna last and not tear up the engine or wear it out quick. my ol stock 318 went 264k mi on the original build, what type of ring will last like the originals?

Total Seal

Perfect Circle U-FLEX

any experience with the rings that KB sells?

Brand isnt too much of a big deal on most builds. The more performance you want, the better the ring may need to be.
For reference... the top ring is the only one that is coated with molybdenum on a moly set. It is also the only one that is designed to seal combustion pressure, and needs to be matched with the cylinder finish your shop used. Using a moly ring on a cylinder wall that is too rough is a waste because the rough finish will remove the moly. Then it's an iron ring and will need to wear in to seat. Using a plain iron faced ring on the smooth finish a moly ring should have may lead to ring sealing issues because the ring can't seat well. I've used Hastings, Childs and Albert, Total Seal, Sealed power, and Speed Pro. Some parts of kits, some bought seperately. C&A IMO was nicest but most money. I use Speed Pro file fit moly for most of them and they are fine.

rings are one area where i am a little fuzzy...what lasts longest? moly? steel? iron? cast? i dont know. and if i go with a long lasting ring, do i sacrifice anything in exchange for longevity? its going to be a tame LA 360 build, mostly stock except KB 107 pistons and a comp xe-262 cam, so i dont need race tough rings, just good seal and long lasting.

Hey charger 440,

I am building almost exactly the same thing. I am using stock bottom end, but just gonna swap in some KB107s. I am doing just a little bit of block and head milling on my own. But anyways, I have talked to a few engine builders in my area and on moparts as well.

It seems the general conclusion has been to use Seal pro rings. I've been told that for a stock-mild build they're great and they're only like 50$ I think.

Like stated before, i've been told that the use of moly over a cast come down to the surface of your cylinder bores. If its been fresh honed then I was told to use moly rings. But if not, then i was told moly rings were kinda a waste because the moly coating will wear off pretty quick anyways.

Take that for what its worth, it's all second hand knowledge for me. Just passing it along.

itll be a fresh bore. the engine has sat since 1991 and has about 130k on it, so im gonna go .030 over. so moly then?