Trbodynamx

Sup HT,
I am in the process of rebuilding my motor. My machinist wants to know what the material of the factory rings is? I relayed to him that the factory service manual calls for a 400 grit stone. He believes it to be to fine and usually reserves this for more of a race oriented finish. Wants to go with a coarser grit like 220.

So just wanted to get further clarification before he goes through with it. The material of the rings would help him to better gauge what grit to use. Ultimately he will leave the decision to me, so I am posing this question to gain further insight.

engine
jdm b18c (currently had oem usdm itr pistons with bad home honing job from previous owner)
going to oem usdm itr pistons .25mm over with new rings

Spawne32

iTrader: (3)

Ive found this guide from enginehones.com to be pretty useful myself, but if your using a factory replacement ring, and not a racing type ring (generally hastings racing rings) I like to follow the manufacturer spec to the letter. I wouldnt go any rougher then a 320 grit stone.


Iron Cylinder Ring Type:
OEM Iron rings: 180 or 240 grit
Chrome rings: 240 or 320 grit
Moly Rings: 320 or 400 grit
Plasma Rings: 320 or 400 grit
not sure ring type: 240 grit


Manufacturers Recommendation:
Hastings: 240 grit
Akerly & Childs (Ductile Iron): 240-280 grit
Akerly & Childs (Moly): 400 grit
Perfect Circle (Ductile Iron): 240-280 grit
Perfect Circle (Moly): 400 grit
Speed Pro Hellfire (Ductile Iron): 240-280 grit
Total Seal (Ductile Iron): 240-280 grit
Total Seal (Moly): 320-400 grit
Harley Davidson(stock): 320 grit
Wiseco (chrome top): 320 grit
Mahle (Moly/Chome top): 280 grit

http://www.enginehones.com/technical.html

Trbodynamx

Thanks for the chart. I will bring that to him. I did leave out that I am using the oem honda rings. When he looked at the rings he was thinking that they were chrome rings. So by the chart it would fall near the 240-320 grit. But that doesn't agree between the service manual and chart unless they are actually moly rings from the factory.

Any other thoughts or resources out there? I am still leaning towards the factory recommendation.

1998GsRIntegra

400 grit or higher if you are using oem rings. 240 grit is way too rough for factory honda rings. Honda designed and built the engine, they know what's best.

Spawne32

iTrader: (3)

I never had a problem with 400 grit being the standard for honing, if you want to lean towards the side of caution with a little bit rougher stone, 320 should still work just fine without causing problems.

Trbodynamx

Just an update. I talked to the machinist yesterday. Although he did not find out the material of the rings, we agreed to go with the 400 grit and he is in process of honing my block. After measuring the ring width he felt that the coarser grit would be too much for them and said 400 was right. I told him that the service manual stated it was 400 grit and he agreed that was best. I think he previously misheard me about the service manual, thinking I got the spec from some random internet source. Anyways, everything is in process and I should have my block back by this weekend to start putting it back together.

1998GsRIntegra

Good luck with the assembly process.