what is the easiest way to replace the rings on an LS motor? Should I take the oil pan off and try to go from the bottom, or take the head off and take em out from the top? I I try to take them out from the bottom will I have to take the crank out? I just would like some info from someone who has actualy performed this. What complications are involved? and TIME most importantly! thanks

 

Pull the head and the oil pan off.

Take the h-beams off the connecting rods.

Push the pistons up through the block using something so that the cylinderwalls aren't scared.

 

that's what I thought. About how long should it take?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that's what I thought. About how long should it take?</TD></TR></TABLE>

a full day or more if you never done it before......

 

That's not too bad. thanks alot. Last question though. What kind of problems should I expect to run into. Also should I go ahead and hone(spelling) the block?

 

defiantly hone the block with a manual hone tool you can buy from your auto parts store. if you cant pull the block out of the car and have a machine shop do it for you the next best thing would be to do it yourself.

you just need to hone a little to break the "glaze" on the cylinder walls so that the new rings can seat properly. if you dont hone the new rings might not seat properly or not at all.

one question for you though............are you simply replacing rings or changing the pistons as well? if your going through all that trouble i would atleast upgrade the stock pistons to something with higher compression. B16 pistons would work really well..........also a new set of connecting rod bearings would be a smart thing as well........

good luck

 

pull out block and send to machine shop
dont try to do it yourself if you are not mechanically inclined..

and yeap install higher compresion pistons
ex
b16
b18c1
b18c5
you would like the outcome..

 

pistons are a no no, I'm boosting it later. If you'll look at my other thread on the first page, maybe you can answer my question. I'm pretty "mech" inclined so I don't think honing it will be a problem.

 

if your boosting why not get a set of low compression forged pistons.......

make sure you set the proper ring gaps for a boosted application. i dont know what the specs should be for stock LS pistons but for a semi-reliable boosted application i would atlease set the ring gaps a little larger even on the stock pistons.....

if you search around im sure you can find some info on this........

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mech &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what is the easiest way to replace the rings on an LS motor? Should I take the oil pan off and try to go from the bottom, or take the head off and take em out from the top? I I try to take them out from the bottom will I have to take the crank out? I just would like some info from someone who has actualy performed this. What complications are involved? and TIME most importantly! thanks </TD></TR></TABLE>

you dont sound to mechanically inclined to me
cause you cannot remove pistons from bottom at all
so I suggest taking off block and sending to machine shop
get yourself stronger rod, lowcompresion pistons
and make sure that the rings are closer to the wrist pin
and replacing all bearing upgrading oil pump since you need more
when you are boosting

 

you can too take them out from the bottom. Now that I think about it I would have to do an excessive amount of work like taking out the crank, I'm guessing I would also have to loosen the head bolts to reduce the suction effect on the pistons, unbolt the tranny, all belts pulleys and accessories, and other odds and ends. No I don't know the exact procces but I could figure it out. (That's what I mean by mechanically inclined). I'm not ASE certified but I could definetly out do some of the ones who are. Either way you look at it, I never said I was perfect or knew how to do everything.