situation:
i bought some NPR 82mm pistons for my LS motor. they sent Hastings Rings with the pistons.. had my machinist bore the block to each piston. i then got ready to install the pistons and was prepared to file the endgaps to proper spec. the Helms manual says new rings gap should be 0.008" to 0.012" (top ring).. i measured these hastings rings.. top ring had 0.021" gap, second ring had 0.018" gap, and the oil rings (bottom 2 rings) had a gap of 0.028"

i called hastings and asked them their specs.. they told me 0.020" for top and second ring and 0.050" for the bottom oil rings.. they claimed that the specs are an "aftermarket" spec that all the ring manufacturers use LOL.. i'm like ok whatever. i asked if it was because they had different thermal expansion properties and they said no.. it was basically so engine builders who didnt check the gap didnt assemble a motor and have too tight of ring gap and cause in their words "catastrophic engine failure".

I ordered a set of rings from a different manufacturer ( "Hi-Tech" brand sold by Partsamerica.com) i'll find out tomorrow night what kind of end gaps they have.

anyway.. what i'm wondering is would you guys use those hastings rings with those (to me) huge end gaps..
what would u guys do?

thanks.

 

i'm sure someone here has an opinion??

 

Is this motor gonna be turbo'd?? if so The gaps that you had from the hastings rings will be fine, turbo motors run hot so the rings need more room to expand.

 

yeah its gonna be boosted.. well after talking to my machinist, i'm gonna run them.

for the record, HI-Tech Engine Components rings are the same rings as Hastings sells.. same part# on the box.. unfortunately the schucks autopart store's part numbering isnt the same or i wouldnt have bought them. the box said 2c 4666 040 which is what the hastings rings box said. and i checked end gap just to make sure and yes they're the same.

 

what was the piston to wall clearance set to?

 

factory Helms manual specs.. if i remember correctly 0.0004 to 0.0014
i gave my machinist the pistons and he bored and "torque plate" honed to spec.. i trust his work so didnt check it after he was done. the pistons fit in nicely.
got the block assembled last night. the rotating assembly turns freely.. gotta transfer all the parts from my other block to this one.. (after i clean them)

 

you should be ok, hastings rings are a reputable product..