It seems like every piston and piston ring manufacturer has a different recommended piston end gap orientation when installing pistons. I'm using wiseco pistons and they show the top and 2nd ring lining up with the piston pin. I've always been told never to have any piston ring gaps facing the piston pin or thrust side of piston. I'm using CP piston rings and they show it a completely different way than Wiseco. What is a tried and true method for gap orientation for you?

 

I would follow the FSM method:

 

I have always used the Honda given method, even with forged pistons. It seems to make the most sense. I wonder why it seems that every company has a different recommended way?

 

They want to make it "their way" of doing things. I've always used the suggestion method (from Honda) and never have issues.

 

I want to point out that the above posted picture does not show which side is intake or exhaust. You can do it either way, as long as all cylinders are the same. But I personally do it so the intake side is left side of the above picture. This provides slightly higher compression, aka slightly less combustion pressure loss, due to the piston being forced to the intake side and doing a better job at covering the ring gaps.

 

I can't remember if I placed it with the intake on the left or right. Either way, I'm getting 195+psi on all cylinders so I guess it really doesn't make a difference. lol