Hemi ring gap position?

I just looked at an old performance book that showed the top ring gap right in the middle of the thrust area. I was going to install mine away from the pins and thrust surfaces. Got me wondering.

Where do you guys put your ring gaps?

-Scouder

 

The big dogs with all the money started to do testing with all sorts of different ways to measure. Unfortunately the rings make circles similar to a valve spring or a valve. As soon as we found these types of things out, where to put the ring gap became much less important.
Some guys still place them in a certain location hoping that it will stay straight enough through the first few revolutions to help in a certain way in break-in.

I have found unfortunate ways to keep them from spinning though. Pinching ring lands, melting piston tops and welding rings to the land are three ways that I have been successful in the past.
I wouldn't recommend any of them.

 

OK...on my list of things to remember: Rings that don't move = Bad.

Thanks for the input. I'll just do it the way I've always done and not worry about it.

-Scouder

 

Pinned rings

I had a bike engine (4 stroke) that had pins in the lands so that the rings would not rotate, I can't remember if it was a Japanese deal or an Italian and I don't know why they would do that seems like a good way to ensure scratches stay in alignment? of course the trade off in a race engine would be as the liners get egg shaped the rings could follow suite. Anyone else heard of this, or why its done?


PS, On a 2 stroke it makes sense because you dont want the end of the ring hanging in a port.

 

every motocross bike i ever raced had the pins in the ring lands so the rings wouldn't spin. they had to do it that way because of the design of the exhaust ports. there were just too many open areas in the cylinder to hang a ring on.
we put ours like Will said.....but they spin so you just have to keep an eye on it.
Darren

 

A small point. If the rings all line up sometimes that will indicate the bore is out of round and they will rotate with the gaps to the largest part of the bore.

 

I go this way;
If NASCAR is doing it, it makes more power, so I will certainly try it.
If they are not doing it, they did try it and it did not help.
Somewhat the same deal with the 500 inch pro stocks.
Follow those guys and save 50 million a year on trying every possibility in the book. And they don't pin their rings.

 

This response is not totally on topic, but I always avoid having any of the ring gaps end up in the intake valve notch area at the top of the sleeve....as it could catch the ring end and bend a ring....the piston assemblies seem to slide in a little easier when the gaps are not in that area....