Mindless

So here's the deal. I started putting the bottom end of my ZC back together sunday night. I go to set the end gaps for the rings and am a little worried about the clearances.

Starting from the bottom. The oil control rails had a gap of 0.030" out of the box so I didn't touch them. All four of the 2nd compression rings had a end gap of 0.015" so I didn't touch those either. The top compression rings, for the most part, had a gap of 0.018" out of the box. One or two of the top compression rings were slightly tighter (0.016" - 0.017") so I did file those to 0.018". I was, and still am, worried about that end gap but I thought it may be better to keep it consistent.

Are the end gaps ok? I have been told not to worry about the oil control rails as you offset the gaps anyway. The 2nd compression ring is dead on but the top compression ring just seems too loose. I have asked around and have been told everything from "order new top compression rings" to "don't worry about it".

DOHC ZC block bored .5mm over. The rings are also .5mm over. If I do order new top rings should I get them 1mm over?

Any help would be great. Thanks.

daubleaaron

http://thezcr.com/assets/images/zcbook/2a-2.jpg

Mindless

I know the OEM specs. Thanks anyway.

fourthgenhatch

if it's at OEM spec then you shouldn't have any problem. did you check the side gaps too?

Mindless

No I haven't check the side gap yet. For a FI application the end gaps need to be looser than OEM spec but I don't want to be too loose. OEM spec for the top ring is VERY tight.

edit: Here are the minimum end gaps per JE.

http://www.jepistons.com/pdf/piston_instrc4032.pdf

I just need to know if I'm within the recomended spec and / or what others have succesfully run in the past. I called JE but the tech wasn't in so I had to leave a message.

Jcushing

according to their chart your pretty loose.... id think youd want it to be in the .015. i think you already know what you should do but dont want to so you want someone to tell you it will be ok. im not gonna tell ya either, im just gonna tell ya im sure it will run fine the way it is but its obviously out of spec.

Mindless

That's not it at all. I'm not looking for reinforcing any premonition I have. This is the first time I have built an engine so I am looking for some feedback. The specs on JE's site (I think the street / strip or whatever category it is) states a minimum of 0.015" but doesn't give a range like OEM specs. I honestly do feel that the top ring is too loose but since I have never built an engine before in my life I want to make sure that my feeling is correct since I have no experience to base it off of.

Me getting my opinion reinforced is pointless. All I want is someone with some experience to give me some feedback.

kill-ka-t-kill

all rig gaps i have seen for a honda have mic'ed out perfect and required no filing, i recomend factorey spec rings (std. or o/s).

Mindless

I just got off the phone with JE and the tech said that the acceptable range was 0.015"-0.020".

themadhatter

mindless you still hangin around lynchburg?