I've heard mixed stories about these rings. Got a guy here who swears by them. But most here say they're junk. Why? Please share your opinions or experieces w/ them.

Thanks,

PS: where can I order some Clevite bearings?
Part numbers MB 2508H Main bearing STD lower
CB 663H STD Lower

I can find the CB's but not the main bearings to save my life.

 

I have them and I would not hesitate to run them on a race motor but I think there are some issues using them on the street.

I have them b/c I thought I would be juiced by now but not yet...

 

What kind of issues would they pose on the street. It's basically a wkend driver but driven hard on the track and autobahn.

Thanks for your response,

 

I run them in my old Harley panhead...
No probs that I can see [it seems 'crisper' too?]

 

When I decided on them, I reasoned that if they were good for more passes at the track before they needed replacing, they must be good for even longer life on the street. I also run a large cam and needed help with improving the vacuum level. I think they are great and several engine builders I spoke to for advice suggested them. I would recommend them.

 

I thought I'd try a set. I put some TS gapless rings in a BBC in my daily driver p/u over a year ago. They seem to be working just fine. They charge a premium for these gapless rings, but I'm not certain they are worth it. Frankly, I couldn't tell any difference. I'll have an opinion on them at the next rebuild, which I hope isn't any time soon.

 

Dave Vizard has an article in current issue of Popular Hot Rodding. Among other things he tested them in the same engine with conventional rings.

He kinda liked them. Zero leak on the 4 cylinders with TS gapless and 3-6% or so leakage with conventional.

He also did a lot of ring gap dyno tests. As you would expect, the tighter the gaps the better the power...but not a ton.

Typically, the newest issue isn't online yet.

If you are building an engine to get the last few % power, the cost might be worth it. There seem to be some big name winners using them.

My $.02

 

"Who thinks total seal piston rings are junk?"



I do.

Gapless second rings don't make any sense because the pressure built up between the top and second ring will render the top ring useless. There is a reason ring manufacturers recommend a larger gap on the second ring. To make sure that pressure going past the top ring, also goes past the second ring so the top ring doesn't get unseated from the groove in the piston.

Gapless top rings, while probably better than gapless second rings, still pose a problem with oil control. The small amount of pressure that gets by a conventional ring pack clears out the oil rings. If you can attain zero blowby in running conditions with a gapless top ring, I think you will have oil control problems.

So, IMO, there is more to be lost than gained with gapless rings.

 

>I ordered the "Hellfire" RS4030 for my stroker . I never heard of them , but the guys at Combination Motorsports recommends them .

 

I'm using hellfire top rings in my current engine. They are tool steel, and from what I hear, harder on the cylinder bore.

 

The comment was made regarding the good leakdown test with the TS ring. I consider that a very misleading test. Sorta like the oil treatment commercials. I'll put it this way, a rather questionable static test in a dynamic operating engine. I consider a primary compression ring in the second groove, flawed engineering. Now that TS is satisfied the ring material chosen can survive the abuse in the top groove, I now consider the gapless ring to have merit. Without further testing, I am hesitant to agree with the oil control issue with the improved (top) ring sealing. Wall prep (as in correct prep) is very important/critical to the success of the gapless top ring.