[E-Type] Installing piston rings

I have a slight problem. I installed new piston rings some time ago but did
not com-plete assembly of the engine. I recently took the pistons, rods,
crank, etc. to a shop to have everything balanced. The machinist removed the
new piston rings from the pistons and I am uncertain as to how the top two
rings are properly assembled. Both rings are the same thickness but one has a
small area cut back on an outside edge. (1) Does this ring go in the top or
second slot down and (2) does the cut back area face up or down??
Unfortuantely, I long discarded the instructions (I think the rings may have
been made by Teeves.) and the shop manual does not provide any help. Any
thoughts??
John Duncan
Jagman70
70ots

Hi, John -

The cutback (chamfered) ring is the top one, and the cut edge goes in
toward the top of the piston. It’s there for re-ringers who don’t remove
the ridge left in the top of the cylinder by the prior engine running; the
old rings removed a bit of metal except there they didn’t contact - the top
of each cylinder. If you use a ridge reamer on each cylinder, you wouldn’t
need the chamfered ring.

Glad you’re working on your car again!

Incidentally, saw a rerun of Matt Houston this PM - During the opening, a
red XKE OTS goes flying into a pond! We never get a break!

Good luck!

Larry Schear
Twin Cam, Inc.

At 09:41 PM 03/13/2000 -0500, you wrote:>I have a slight problem. I installed new piston rings some time ago but did

not com-plete assembly of the engine. I recently took the pistons, rods,
crank, etc. to a shop to have everything balanced. The machinist removed the
new piston rings from the pistons and I am uncertain as to how the top two
rings are properly assembled. Both rings are the same thickness but one has a
small area cut back on an outside edge. (1) Does this ring go in the top or
second slot down and (2) does the cut back area face up or down??
Unfortuantely, I long discarded the instructions (I think the rings may have
been made by Teeves.) and the shop manual does not provide any help. Any
thoughts??
John Duncan
Jagman70
70ots

Nuts, I can’t remember either. But there is a top and bottom to each,
and there is a top and second ring.
LLoyd

JAGMAN70@aol.com wrote:>

I have a slight problem. I installed new piston rings some time ago but did
not com-plete assembly of the…