Just got my pistons re-ringed and am now curious as to how im going to get them in the block.

What do you guys use to compress the piston rings so that they will fit inside the cylinder block?

 

nevermind, just got off the phone with the guy from autozone.

 

A piston ring compressor! Not too expensive.

 

a ring compressor. Most autoparts stores stock the spring steel ratcheting type. They kinda suck, and it's easy to hurt yourself so be careful and use a lot of lube.

ARP makes a nice one but it is like $80.

 

also make sure you don't just go putting the ring in there any which way. some rings have a top side and bottom side, which will be marked by a dimple indentation, "TOP", or just the letter T. be sure to space the rings properly as well. basic rule of thumb is not to have any one gap directly over another, and to have them equally spaced apart.

 

Interesting pic there. I thought you just had to ensure their gaps were not lined up.
Ususally done by spacing the gaps evenly all the way around the piston. But your pic shows them clocked to the intake and exhaust. Any idea what the purpose is for that?

 

i'm not sure what you mean. aside from the oil expander everything is equal distances away from the other. i have seen a similar pic that shows the oil expander where #2 comp. ring goes, but it makes more sense to me to have it where its currently at.