clocking the piston rings

[combs-dsm]

So i will be installing my pistons into my block pretty soon. Amd have seen tons of different ways to clock the rings. And searchs on here and nothing for it came up. So im wondering whats the best way for the 7 bolt 4g63 rings to be clocked.

 

[crash89]

You should have a sheet that comes with the rings that should show you what the gap placement should be. But heres what I found on google as I couldnt remember the exact placement either.

 

[combs-dsm]

Yea i saw alot of different ways on google. Just wasnt sure the best way for my engine. I got a sheet that said the way to clock them but no picture so i didnt really understand it. Lmao i work better with pictures and bright colors.

 

[viperlp01]

Do you realize that your rings rotate around the piston as the engine runs? It is not that vital to have placement exactly as some google website says. As long as the top and middle ring are offset right off the bat you will be good.

 

[dirtsdsm]

I've always been told to clock them with the piston intake said facing away from you with the compression ring at the 11 o'clock position and the next ring at the 5 o'clock position and the top oil controll ring at the 7 o'clock, the spacer 90 egress from that, and the bottom oil controlled ring 180 degrees from the first oil controlled ring,.. and none of the rings should be where the wrist pun is located...

 

[combs-dsm]

Do you realize that your rings rotate around the piston as the engine runs? It is not that vital to have placement exactly as some google website says. As long as the top and middle ring are offset right off the bat you will be good.

If they rotated around the piston while the engine runs then whats the hype about the rings setting grooves in the block? Wouldnt they fallow those grooves that are set all the time?

 

[black97spyder]

Just wait till I come up buddy, I'll help ya shove those things in the block .... On the motors I have built the rings are just clocked away from each other, usually in 1/4 - 1/5 turn steps. Never had a problem with them

 

[combs-dsm]

Matt your be here when we ut em in. Should be good to go. We have pictures now .

 

[spyderdrifter]

If they rotated around the piston while the engine runs then whats the hype about the rings setting grooves in the block? Wouldnt they fallow those grooves that are set all the time?

Even if the rings do move around the piston while running, setting the gap helps maintain your compression. Its like the piston rings on a rifle bolt, if their gaps are all lined up, the rifle won't fire well, if at all. Engine piston rings act in a similar fashion. They hold that compression so it operates right. The cylinder honing actually files down the edges of the piston rings and over the course of the break-in cycle, will get the rings to seat in place.

 

[combs-dsm]

Ok. Awesome. Thanks everybody for the advice.

 

[viperlp01]

The grooves are there because of an improperly filed ring.

 

[BogusSVO]

Do you realize that your rings rotate around the piston as the engine runs? It is not that vital to have placement exactly as some google website says. As long as the top and middle ring are offset right off the bat you will be good.

^^^^ This

If they rotated around the piston while the engine runs then whats the hype about the rings setting grooves in the block? Wouldnt they fallow those grooves that are set all the time?

They do not rotate the entire time, just until they take a seat. The micro grooves during the ring seating process then keeps them in place.


I built a 2.3l Ford one time just to see what happens, and on purpose lined all the gaps up.

The pulled the engine at about 10k miles, none of the rings were in line, The oil scraper ring moved the least. the top and second rings moved between a 1/3 and 1/2 around the piston.

Yes compression was a tad low, and it did oil smoke for about the first 500 miles.

 

[combs-dsm]

Ok awesome guys. Ill get them close. Im glad to know its not 100% critical.

 

[iceman510]

If by chance the opinion of the engine designers matters, you could do it like the factory service manual recommends. That is how I position mine.