Engine build Dilema... Which way to go????

Quote:

---

So I'm ready to take the block to the machine shop. My bore is at 4.1845-4.1855.

With that being said.

Option #1 A new ring pack costs $1067, and the pistons to go with that have a 4.1745 skirt. The spec says skirt clearance must be min 0.0080 and max of 0.0100 (yeah I know a couple cylinders are at .0110) For this all I need to do is run a hone thru for diamond rings and new bearings.

Option #2 open the ring lands up (above mentioned pistons) by Eric at Rebco for $210 buy off the shelf 4.185 rings (.043, .043, 3mm) and throw it back together. JE pistons told me they wouldn't open the lands up, but they said I could do whatever I want.

Option #3 I have a new set of pistons, that will require boring to 4.200. I will have to buy a new set of rods $600-$800, Rings $414, and the deck will have to be taken down .0500 Everything will be nice and tight again, but I don't like the idea of milling the deck down on this really expensive block.

Option #4 order custom rods ($2488) and run the new pistons with current deck height. Not really cost effective...

---

On option #2 what are your ring lands now... but this
sounds like the quickest/best and cheapest

Quote:

---

Currently

Groove width
Top .0318 (.81mm)
2nd .0335 (.85mm)
Oil .079 (2.01mm)

Distance from deck to first ring .1610

Distance between 1st and 2nd ring .1800

Distance between 2nd and oil .080

---

To cut the ring grooves is pretty easy and the small
amount wouldnt take much space

Quote:

---

Do you think the .001 over max tolerance will be an issue?

---

No... I know I have gone larger.. no big deal.. and
for the money otherwise... it wouldnt happen(for me)

Quote:

---

Do you think the .001 over max tolerance will be an issue?

---

I've had pistons coated to .005... that didnt turn
out well for me since the coating started coming off
in a short period of time... if you knew what the next
size ring pack is then a set of custom pistons would
work.. but no way would I pay $1000 for rings.. for
me a set of all out racing rings are .043 so thats
the thinnest I would go... but if the bore is just
slightly out of round I'd hone it and run it with
machining the ring lands... your not looking for
every single HP

Quote:

---

Well $1000 for rings is not anything new. In fact twice that is nothing new. These new tiny little rings get real expensive especially in big bores. I paid $1900 for the rings in the 99 Hemi I ran. Pistons were another $2600 but this is 4.700 bore stuff.

---

I'm glad for you Al... not me.. I wont spend that kind
of money for a set of rings... OR a set of pistons..
and I have bought plenty of custom pistons.... a race
set of rings is .043... I dont need the odd ball stuff

Quote:

---

Cost money to make power no way around it.

---

Thats where you and I differ... I am a bracket racer
and dont need the big power... I want it to live a
long life and be consistent... thats why I build light
cars.. easy on parts and goes quick on not a ton of power

Quote:

---

The motor is already at pretty much max suggested clearance for the pistons you have............so let me throw another option in there. Hone the block to whatever size gets it clean and straight. Buy a custom piston, for THAT bore size, that fits your current rod length and get the ring pack you WANT.

Monte

---

Quote:

---

Pardon my ignorance, but wouldn't you have to bore the cylinders to get them straight? Or can a hone do that too?

Also if I go to whatever bore cleans up straight, is there a on the shelf ring size close to this bore that won't cost an arm and leg?

I'm not trying to be cheap, I have a lot of upgrades planned this winter and don't want to fall on unexpected costs.

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Well $1000 for rings is not anything new. In fact twice that is nothing new. These new tiny little rings get real expensive especially in big bores. I paid $1900 for the rings in the 99 Hemi I ran. Pistons were another $2600 but this is 4.700 bore stuff.

---

I'm glad for you Al... not me.. I wont spend that kind
of money for a set of rings... OR a set of pistons..
and I have bought plenty of custom pistons.... a race
set of rings is .043... I dont need the odd ball stuff

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Well $1000 for rings is not anything new. In fact twice that is nothing new. These new tiny little rings get real expensive especially in big bores. I paid $1900 for the rings in the 99 Hemi I ran. Pistons were another $2600 but this is 4.700 bore stuff.

---

I'm glad for you Al... not me.. I wont spend that kind
of money for a set of rings... OR a set of pistons..
and I have bought plenty of custom pistons.... a race
set of rings is .043... I dont need the odd ball stuff

---

Its not so much the size of the ring, as the material. We run .043 top and second rings and a standard 3/16 oil ring. The top ring we use is a $100 a hole and the seconds are $50 a hole, so yep, that's $1200 for the two upper rings, then the oil rings are about $50 for all. Super hi tech N/A stuff can be twice that, regardless of land size.

And we re-ring it about every 50 runs

Monte

---

Monte.. like I said to Al.. I wont spend that kind
of money... no need to for the junk I run... and 95%
of the guys on here are the same