Rebuilding 6 bolt..piston ring question

[forcefedtuner]

I'm doing a stock rebuild on a 6 bolt, reusing the stock pistons, did a cylinder hone job, new bearings, ect...I have some standard size Beck/Arnley piston rings, and the top ring, has no inner bevel on it, but the second ring does? So basically the new top ring is straight cut, and the second ring has the inside beveled edge.. The stock rings that came off, the top ring had the beveled edge, and the second was straight cut. Does this sound right? I know sometimes there are piston ring revisions over the years, I just want to know if this sounds right, and if other brands of rings were like this as well. Thanks for any info.

 

[cecil722]

No. the ring with the bevel goes on the top. My dad showed me this when i tore down my engine and told me what it was for (he has been working on cars for a very long time). It is for when the combustion takes place, the piston is shot downward fast enough to make the ring expand just that little bit; thus, making it seal better in the cylinder. But the ring without the bevel goes under the top one. Hope this helps you out.

 

[forcefedtuner]

Yeah, see that's what's strange..the stock top ring is beveled, but the Beck/Arnley's I got the second ring is beveled, not the top..strange..The beveled ring is the second ring, because it's the thicker of the 2(top ring groove is thinner than the second). I have no clue what the deal is with these rings, but i did email BA about it, but I may just go with either OEM rings, or maybe some Hastings. Anyone else out there with personal experience with aftermarket rings, have this issue? Were your rings like the stock ones, pertaining to the bevel on the top ring?

 

[cecil722]

And also, the gaps in the rings should be opposite of eachother(180 degrees), in order to make a better seal for all the compression. I also position the gaps a little to the side of where the connecting pins are.

 

[forcefedtuner]

Yep, I know all about ring gap staging...this will be my 6th engine build, 4- 420a's, 1- 4g63 SOHC, and now this one Never ran into an issue with rings before like this one..

 

[92awddsm]

Are the rings differnt material/color between the new top and second rings? The top ring should be silver or the face is silver(moly or plasma ring) and the second ring will be gray or black(cast). There is a possibility that the rings were mislabeled during packaging.

Different manufaturers have different designs in rings so the bevel tends to change between them. If the top ring is square, see if it has a bot in one side close to the gap. If so, the dot goes up. If not, it can be installed either direction. I have never seen any difference in compression or life between a beveled, stepped, or square ring. I

 

[92awddsm]

And also, the gaps in the rings should be opposite of eachother(180 degrees), in order to make a better seal for all the compression. I also position the gaps a little to the side of where the connecting pins are.

Gap orientation truly doesnt matter because it wil change the first time the piston makes a full stroke in the cylinder. The rings spin on the piston when installed in the block so no matter how you place the ring gaps, it changes immediately.

 

[forcefedtuner]

Are the rings differnt material/color between the new top and second rings? The top ring should be silver or the face is silver(moly or plasma ring) and the second ring will be gray or black(cast). There is a possibility that the rings were mislabeled during packaging.

Different manufaturers have different designs in rings so the bevel tends to change between them. If the top ring is square, see if it has a bot in one side close to the gap. If so, the dot goes up. If not, it can be installed either direction. I have never seen any difference in compression or life between a beveled, stepped, or square ring. I

Well I just double checked, and BOTH rings have the silver edges. The stock rings pretty much look that way as well though. Also, both rings have dots on them, for "top". I don't know, something just seems a bit odd here WTF It wouldn't surprise me if it was a mis-package..that seems to happen to me quite a bit

 

[forcefedtuner]

Can anyone here who has built their engine, recall how their rings were positioned? What brand did you use? I got a reply email from Beck/Arnley, and quality control is going to "look into it" ..

 

[forcefedtuner]

Ok, let me ask this.. Are the Hastings Rings moly or chrome? Anyone know for a fact? I really want OEM moly type rings, and not sure if these BA's are moly or chrome.
I searched an found the ITM rings were moly, but can anyone confirm exactly what brands(besides dealer OEM), are moly? thanks

 

[92awddsm]

Ok, let me ask this.. Are the Hastings Rings moly or chrome? Anyone know for a fact? I really want OEM moly type rings, and not sure if these BA's are moly or chrome.
I searched an found the ITM rings were moly, but can anyone confirm exactly what brands(besides dealer OEM), are moly? thanks

The Hastings can be had in plasma moly. If memory serves me correctly, the BA are also plasma moly.

 

[forcefedtuner]

The Hastings can be had in plasma moly. If memory serves me correctly, the BA are also plasma moly.

Thanks for your input. I've done tons of searching on the net,ect., and my only remaining question if i decide to use these BA rings, is that inner bevel on the second compression ring. The stock top ring is inside beveled, but the BA one is not, but the second ring is inner beveled on the BA..I dont see why this would be an issue, as the bevel is going to be on the inside of the ring either up or down, and not on the outside. If it were on the outside of the ring, then oil control would be an issue. Can anyone remember when they used aftermarket rings if they had inside bevels on them? Top or second ring?