Piston ring gap and forced induction - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Chukjagr · 09-07-2016, 07:59 PM

It seems that a majority of failures on these motors is from the top piston ring ends touching and then breaking the piston crown or lower ring set. Would it be worth it to just open the top ring gap 0.010-0.025 in to prevent that from happening? It would cause more blow-by especially when cold but its better than destroying a piston. I know it would be a labor intensive to do it but would it work? Thoughts?

D3R3K · 09-07-2016, 08:39 PM

It really depends on how much power you plan on making.

That's a lot of work to re-use factory stuff. Plus you have a higher chance of pushing water. That factory head gasket seal is legit and hard to duplicate. The heads are machine torqued all at the same time from the factory.

Which is why in my case I have been able to run 17-18 psi of boost for the past 3 years with a "stock" engine.

Unreal · 09-07-2016, 10:00 PM

For all the time and money for gaskets/bolts/fluids/etc the added cost of piston is almost small.

UNRIVALED SS · 09-08-2016, 08:52 PM

This has been done with many junk yard 5.3 running a turbo. The boost they will take is ridiculous.

supergt99 · 09-08-2016, 09:37 PM

If I open mine up its getting Pistons

Chukjagr · 09-09-2016, 08:14 PM

I was planning on doing head studs anyways and was thinking about doing it at the same time. At that point it's just my labor, no real additional parts.

09-07-2016, 07:59 PM	#1
Chukjagr Drives: '15 SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 35	Piston ring gap and forced induction It seems that a majority of failures on these motors is from the top piston ring ends touching and then breaking the piston crown or lower ring set. Would it be worth it to just open the top ring gap 0.010-0.025 in to prevent that from happening? It would cause more blow-by especially when cold but its better than destroying a piston. I know it would be a labor intensive to do it but would it work? Thoughts? __________________ '15 1LE, AGP TT -sold 😢 ‘19 1LE, stock stock stock.

09-07-2016, 08:39 PM	#2
D3R3K Sittin side ways Drives: 2010 2SS/RS IOM Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Arlington,Tx Posts: 232	It really depends on how much power you plan on making. That's a lot of work to re-use factory stuff. Plus you have a higher chance of pushing water. That factory head gasket seal is legit and hard to duplicate. The heads are machine torqued all at the same time from the factory. Which is why in my case I have been able to run 17-18 psi of boost for the past 3 years with a "stock" engine. __________________ 850+hp club member Procharger F1-A

09-07-2016, 10:00 PM	#3
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	For all the time and money for gaskets/bolts/fluids/etc the added cost of piston is almost small. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

09-09-2016, 08:14 PM	#6
Chukjagr Drives: '15 SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 35	I was planning on doing head studs anyways and was thinking about doing it at the same time. At that point it's just my labor, no real additional parts. __________________ '15 1LE, AGP TT -sold 😢 ‘19 1LE, stock stock stock.

09-08-2016, 08:52 PM	#4
UNRIVALED SS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: El Paso Posts: 704 View My Garage	This has been done with many junk yard 5.3 running a turbo. The boost they will take is ridiculous.

09-08-2016, 09:37 PM	#5
supergt99 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: earth Posts: 288	If I open mine up its getting Pistons