i was checking out my rings for my new keith black pistons....i noticed there is plastic on the ends of the oil ring...do i leave it or take it off? when i took my stock pistons out it had nothing like it...WTF??

 

ttt

 

If the rings you have are Grant brand or similar, the plastic is used to prevent the ends of the expander from overlapping and releasing tension. Before the plastic was used some folks (the less skilled.....) would overlap them and find that the engine burned lots of oil....
Ensure that the ends of the expander butt against each other, and after winding in the scraper rails, be sure the oil ring assembly sticks out from the piston, and is impossible to compress in with your fingers. Then you will know it is assembled properly.