I am a little surprised that 0.0225" top ring end gap wasn't enough for Normally Aspirated application, alcohol.
That being said, from what you see, 0.026" should get the job done, IMO.
Is your top ring groove closer than 0.250" from the piston top? Doesn't look like it, but that could be a factor.
Jim
Top ring is .220 down. I went .025 top .029 second. The coated pistons look real nice. They have .0025 clearance cold and will wear in to the proper clearance very quickly according to L2L.
I had my heads CC'd and checked my pistons. Both heads and pistons have been worked on. The heads went from 2.19 intakes to 2.25 and then 2.300/1.78 combo. My true compression turned out to be 14.3/1 with the new 550 cube combo, short of the 15.2 I was expecting .You know what they say, never ass u me! So that means compression was only 13.73 in the 528 combo. The new combo came out .018 down from the deck. Perfect for a Cometic .027 gasket to end up at .045 quench.
