Me and a friend were assembling a motor and when he put the pistons in and had the top 2 ring gaps 180 degrees apart and in line with the piston pin and the lower 2 ring gaps 180 degrees apart and perpendicular to the piston pin. After installing the head, he realized the error. The crank is not in yet, we can move the pistons up and down, but the head is bolted on and all valvetrain installed. Is this a huge problem? Can we spin the pistons around and get the gaps to move around a little? Any ideas?

 

Why did or would you put in the rods and head on without the crank?Take the head off and take the rods out and put the crank in first.I hope the rods didn't nick the bores.

 

don't worry about the rings moving, they'll rotate anyway (I usually don't even worry about the gap, I just sorta don't put them over top each other), however, the head defintely needs to go on after the crank and recopricating assembly is in.