Ring gap?

[JeffV8]

What would a good ring gap be on my gen3 Aluminator clone short block ?

 

[thelostotter]

When I built my engine (Gen 2) I gapped it half way between what Wiseco calls for in Late Model Stock and Circle Track engines ~0.0052" per inch which worked out to 0.019" gap on the compression ring. The second rings were gapped to 0.022", or 0.0060" per inch which marginally more than what they suggest for a Circle Track engine (0.0057"). This is a thousandth more than I wanted but one of the rings was 0.022" without me doing any filing so I made them all match. They specifically state the second ring should be larger.

Stock compression rings were all at 0.015", didn't measure the second rings. No complaints, no noticeable oil consumption, minimal blow by as my catch can catches maybe a couple ounces during a track day.

Edit: Remembered why I gapped the second rings at 0.022"

 

[blacksheep-1]

Barring any factory recomendations..

"

• 004 x 4.00in bore = 0.016 inch ring gap

For high performance engines, the multiplier changes to add more clearance, but the math stays the same:

• Modified or Nitrous Oxide - 0.005in x 4.00in bore = 0.020 inch ring gap
• High Performance Racing - .0055in x 4.00in bore = 0.022 inch ring gap
• Racing with Nitrous/Turbo - 0.006in x 4.00in bore = 0.024 inch ring gap
• Racing Blower/Supercharger - 0.007 x 4.00in bore = 0.028 inch ring gap

For the second ring, the process is the same, but with a slightly different gap, based on application:

• Street - 0.005in x bore size
• Modified or Nitrous Oxide - 0.0055in x bore size
• High Performance Racing - 0.0053in x bore size
• Racing with Nitrous/Turbo - 0.0057in x bore size
• Racing Blower/Supercharger - 0.0063in x bore size"