i am doing a mild ls/vtec build i am using standard size rod and main bearings, spark racing I beam rods, gsr head. i am curious what to do about the piston rings. i need to find out if i should just use some oem replacement ring set or find some good aftermarket rings to use. i want to know this because eventually i am going to boost it and i dont want to use some weak rings that will just fry when i get on it occasionally, and i will be driving it N/A for awhile and i dont know it i can use some turbo rings without a turbo for a couple thousand miles. i am also using the stock b18b pistons. Please help me out with this.

 

if your running oem pistons i would just run oem rings. your pistons and rings time and duability will depend on the abuse the car sees and more important the tune. alot of stock blocks push very good numbers with stock internals and last. ls/vtecs are bit more likely to burn oil due to the lack of no oil squirters not providing wall lubriction and cooling the stock pistons need under high heat and rpm. im still on my stock bottom end b16 running 12.2 on 7.5lbs with my setup on a rough tune and has been good for 2 years now. im sure if i fine tune it i can get more power, but thats why im putting in my built block over winter. i recommend picking up some decent pistons and rings like cp's and not have to worry(as much).

 

yeah. i cant find any good prices i can afford for pistons. the reason i am worrin so much is a buddy of mine just turbod his del sol with a b16a and drove it for a week. steped on it once or twice a day and the rings are [freak]ed just from 9 or 10 pulls. he also had a rough tune. my gsr had a really really good tune done professionally and this ls/vtec is goin in my ej for a DD and i am goin to get it tuned professionally also. its just that i have never messed with an ls/vtec. but thanks for the advice.

 

if you're buying OEM replacements just goto majestic honda or google oem acura parts.

supertech pistons are pretty affordable also but i guess it depends on what your budget is, check atomicspeedware.com

 

ok cool thanks alot man i will.

 

Rings aren't what die in an untuned Honda motor. Its the pistons, specifically the ringlands. Different rings will do nothing to help prevent that. Furthermore, any car that runs way too much fuel will ruin ANY ring by washing away the lubricating oil with the excessive gasoline.

As for rings themselves, there ARE bad rings you can get, namely aftermarket brands like total-seal. You get OEM rings for OEM pistons, Wiseco rings for Wiseco pistons, etc. Many people have had major issues with aftermarket rings that don't come packaged with a particular piston.


That said, it would be a complete waste of money to get forged rods and still use stock pistons. Since there is no such thing as turbo or NA rings for Hondas, you don't have to worry about it. FYI a turbo motor works almost exactly like an NA motor until the turbo makes boost. When it does, a Honda motor functions differently from other 'normal' motors due to using only a MAP sensor. Unless the ecu is tuned very well, you're almost garaunteed a big problem. Other cars adjust the overall tune themselves (to a degree), Hondas do not.