piston ring orientation

[Froggx]

I forgot to look when I took them out, and didn't think about it when I first dropped them in, but while I still have easy access to them, is there a specific way the pistong rings on the 3400 are supposed to be aligned when you drop the pistons in the block?

[sharkey]

RE: piston ring orientation

nothing real specail, just make sure the gaps are not lined up. i like to have the compression ring gaps 180 degrees from each other, and make sure the oil ring gaps are not lined up.

[geoffinbc]

YES!

Very important. However I just looked on GM's site and cannot find a thing.

[Froggx]

YES!

Very important. However I just looked on GM's site and cannot find a thing.

yeah this is my problem, I can't find snap about it

[geoffinbc]

Well I know I have it at home for my old 2.8L

I will try and remember to post it

[RacerX11]

Here is a PDF from JE Pistons that shows the gap orientation on the 2nd page: http://www.jepistons.com/pdf/piston_instrc4032.pdf

This orientation matches what is in my GM factory service manual.

Marty

[kill_them_all]

180º from each other and do not place the gaps on the major thrust faces.

[Synestral]

According to that PDF, the gaps are on the thrust surfaces.

[RacerX11]

According to that PDF, the gaps are on the thrust surfaces.

Yes they are. Don't listen to kill_them_all; Go by the PDF diagram...it matches the service manual.

Marty

[Froggx]

I dug up a service manual, it agrees.

edit: my service manual said to install the inverse direction for the other cylinder banks so that like oil ring expender gaps face each other and such, should this be followed?

[oleman]

I just pulled 6 pistons from a 3100. Non of the piston rings were lined up properly.
The simple reason is because the rings rotate around the piston during operation.
All the gaps probably pass other many time in a few hours of running.
Line them up correctly at install and then forget about them!!!!