gapless rings (1 Viewer)

[holeshot]

Just wondering I run a steel headed 468 bbc that made 696 hp. in my super gas car.It has 13.9 to 1 compression and I am gonna freshen it this spring.A couple people have told me to go to gapless rings for more hp is it worth it.No air pump any help or comments would help just don't want to spend extra $$$ on this engine unless I will see improvement since this will be the last year for this engine.THANKS

 

[Jenn]

Just wondering I run a steel headed 468 bbc that made 696 hp. in my super gas car.It has 13.9 to 1 compression and I am gonna freshen it this spring.A couple people have told me to go to gapless rings for more hp is it worth it.No air pump any help or comments would help just don't want to spend extra $$$ on this engine unless I will see improvement since this will be the last year for this engine.THANKS

Go to the experts...
Childs and Alberts

1-661-295-1900

 

[Jude]

Gas or Alcohol?

If it's just gas, I'd just go with a good set of file fit conventional rings.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[FABMAN]

Just wondering I run a steel headed 468 bbc that made 696 hp. in my super gas car.It has 13.9 to 1 compression and I am gonna freshen it this spring.A couple people have told me to go to gapless rings for more hp is it worth it.No air pump any help or comments would help just don't want to spend extra $$$ on this engine unless I will see improvement since this will be the last year for this engine.THANKS

Chris, it looks like this combination is working good and your getting good life from motor, I wouldn't change a thing. Gapping rings has work good for years, you motors HAPPY keep it that way.

 

[Buzzz Miller]

Gapless second rings are tricky. If you do not get them set up just right, and hold your mouth just right too, and have great top ring seal, the pressure will get past the first ring, get caught on the second ring and make the top ring flutter. Without getting too detailed, we will just call that a TOTAL DISASTER!!
That is where the piston companies have started cutting reliefs between the top and second ring. To try to give that pressure somewhere to go so it does not disrupt the top ring. The gapless top ring is the right way to do it, but they do not last nearly as long.
So unless you need every thousandth in an all out class, a good standard set of file to fit is the only way to go in my opinion. Then cut the second ring 4 thou wider than the top ring and run it forever.

And not to start a war, because Childs and Albert make good stuff, but when Rocky Childs went and formed his new company with Ray Akerley, I believe they started making better rings than C&A. Great guys to work with, and great help with decades of experience to help you choose the right ring for your application. It is really cool when the owner, Ray Akerley, is the tech guy for rings, and Rocky is available to speak with as well. O.K. Off my personal rant for today.

 

[Paul]

Does anybody know if any of the Pro Stock engine builders have tested or are using gapless rings?

Paul T.

 

[.]

I only have end-user experience with gapless rings.
I bought an assembled new engine from a somewhat well-known SoCal engine house.
Gapless rings were in it.
Nothing but trouble.

Pulled 'em out and installed Childs & Alberts rings I hand filed.
Much better.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

 

[pro1214]

Gapless top rings increase the VE of the engine. I can assure you with 100% accuracy that Gapless top rings are used and qualify in race winning Pro Stock, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, and all sportsman engines. Top engine builders like Richard Maskin, David Reher, David Nickens, Gary Stinnett, Allen Patterson, Gary Stanton, Steve Schmidt and many, many others use them all the time. Don't take my word for it, stop by the pits and ask them or call them. I also encourage anybody to stop by our pits and i will gladly take the time to discuss each application directly.

There is no 1 correct part for every application. Every engine is different and may take a different ring package, (same for cams, carbs, etc.)

Thanks alot. I hope this helps.

Matt Hartford
Total Seal Engineering.
800-874-2753

Prostock 1214

 

[RacerRose]

I build dirt track engines, and I'm not a big time builder. I don't have a fancy shop, or the lastest machinery. I use good sense when choosing piston rings. I've used C&A ZGS gapless rings, and I've used Total Seal gapless 2nd sets, and gapless top rings. I've had no problems with either of them. We check cylinder leakage during the season, and if the rings are sealing, I don't care what brand they are.

The way the block is honed makes a difference, and listen to the piston manufacturer as well. I recently did an engine where I bought my assembly from another reputable builder, and these piston had lateral gas ports, and "regular" non-gapless rings as recommended by the piston manufacturer.

If your engine is fine the way it is, you may wanna leave well enough alone.

 

[Buzzz Miller]

I will agree with Matt. If you need every penny of power and a thousanth is the difference between winning and losing, put a gapless top ring in. (ie. pro stock, comp, and some other heads up stuff. The big boys ARE running them.) But I have not seen them last anywhere near what a standard file to fit will. Especially when .043 and even 1mm stuff is so common.
Gapless top for max power, and standard file to fit to get 1000 passes without a re-build.

 

[jimi]

Gapless top rings increase the VE of the engine. I can assure you with 100% accuracy that Gapless top rings are used and qualify in race winning Pro Stock, Comp, Super Stock, Stock, and all sportsman engines. Top engine builders like Richard Maskin, David Reher, David Nickens, Gary Stinnett, Allen Patterson, Gary Stanton, Steve Schmidt and many, many others use them all the time. Don't take my word for it, stop by the pits and ask them or call them. I also encourage anybody to stop by our pits and i will gladly take the time to discuss each application directly.

There is no 1 correct part for every application. Every engine is different and may take a different ring package, (same for cams, carbs, etc.)

Thanks alot. I hope this helps.

Matt Hartford
Total Seal Engineering.
800-874-2753

Prostock 1214

i will not use anything but a total seal ring in any performance based engines i build, every engine i install them in makes more hp period! i ran my stocker for three seasons before removing the engine for a freshen up and it still leaked 0% , i have a few street cars that i built engines for that the customers requested total seal gapless top rings, a good example is a 412 ci stroker 340 in a 1974 duster, the owner makes cross country trips from ny to columbus to see his brothers gets 15.5 mpg and never looses a drop of oil on extended trips like such, the engine runs clean like a modern fi car, my suggestion call matt or keith during the week at total seal and they will get you the best ring set for your engine.

p.s. good luck sunday matt mow them down!!!!