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By MarkMontereyBay - 14 Years Ago
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I have to replace a piston in my 65 FE 352. What rings should I use? This is a stock motor with good cylinder walls, no ridge, etc. Cast or Chrome?
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By Ted - 14 Years Ago
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My vote goes for either cast rings or a moly top ring and cast second ring. Chrome rings can be much pickier in regards to cylinder wall finish and breaking in. Just be sure to break the 'glaze' in the cylinders to give the new rings a chance to properly seat in.
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By MarkMontereyBay - 14 Years Ago
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Thanks Ted,
Not a Y block but has to be put back on the road before I can take the 312 out of the Tbird. I was going for cast iron rings but needed some recommendation. I am going to give a light hone, have the rod checked and a new bearing insert. Crank looks very good and rod bearing was nice even normal wear.
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By crenwelge - 14 Years Ago
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Even though you don't have a ridge, you could have some cylinder taper because you have you never know what has been done to your engine in the past 50 years. A cast iron ring will be forgiving. A chrome ring requires an almost perfect bore such as a rebore. Back in the 60's we always used cast rings on a rering and used chrome rings only if the block had been bored at a machine shop.
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By MarkMontereyBay - 14 Years Ago
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Kenneth,
Thanks for the info, I have been fiddling all day with a dial bore gauge (china..$109 from Summit Racing) trying get it set. So far... the readings are good but I need to go back over it a few times to be sure I am using the gauge correctly and it works the way it should. Also waiting for a set of pistons from a FE Forum member shipped to me from Jacksonville, Florida. He took them out of his 352 and built it to a 390. Supposed to be here Friday.
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By crenwelge - 14 Years Ago
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A poor man's bore gauge is starting with a piston at the bottom of its stroke and laying a ring on top of it. Measure the ring gap. Then move the piston up in the hole and measure the ring gap ever so often. I bought a Fowler gauge a few years ago because the Fowler name used to be quality. It turned out to be junk and I trust my ring measuring method more than the cheap gauge. I used to have a Swedish gauge, but I haven't been able to find it in a while.
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By 46yblock - 14 Years Ago
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I haven't been able to find it in a while. quote of crenwelge So that happens with other guys too  . Nice tip on method of cylinder bore wear measurement.
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By MarkMontereyBay - 14 Years Ago
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crenwelge (2/23/2011)
A poor man's bore gauge is starting with a piston at the bottom of its stroke and laying a ring on top of it. Measure the ring gap. Then move the piston up in the hole and measure the ring gap ever so often. I bought a Fowler gauge a few years ago because the Fowler name used to be quality. It turned out to be junk and I trust my ring measuring method more than the cheap gauge. I used to have a Swedish gauge, but I haven't been able to find it in a while.
I got the dial bore gauge working today. The cylinder measured near or at the wear limit for taper and out-of-round. I like your method using the old ring gap as a reference and when the weather warms back up I am going to compare that measurement to what I got with the dial bore gauge. Used pistons came today and 4 or 5 look like very good candidates. Taking a piston rod combo to the machine shop next week to check the rod to be sure. Also going to plastigauge the rod journal. This all has been a remedial engine repair class from my early apprentice days working the heavy duty line for the first Linc/Merc dealer I was at a long time ago. Fun and a good tune-up for getting my 312 going with the Mummert heads.
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