2 ring or not 2 ring 3.0 w 80K
 

Well as we all know all 3.0 SCs will eventually need headstuds, so I bought a car that needs em. I am in the process of starting to rebuild it case will go together this weekend-heads will be back from Rothsport this week or next.

my thoughts are to keep the rings that are on the pistons as there is no wear at all on the cylinder walls and I dont recall the motor ever smoking. but will I regret it in a few thouand miles?> I never did do a leak down I suppose I should have but I wasnt thinking of it at the time. If any of you suggest that I re-ring what do you sugeest I do to prep the cylinder wals? they are nikasil-magnetic- means that right/./.

anyhow thoughts are appreciated.

Chris

I didn't rering my 78 because it had Alusil cyls, but I sure would have if I had Nikasil. Shouldn't be much more work since you are in there...slippery slope and all....
I am sure some of the really experienced folks will give you advice as well.

The accepted practice for preparing Nikasil cylinders is to scrub them in a cross-hatch pattern with a red Scotch-Brite pad and solvent or diesel fuel, widely available at auto parts stores and autobody supply stores.
The last set of rings that I bought were about $120.00 for a 2.2. I'd do it for that price. If they were $1500.00 I'd think twice about it.
If you post a picture of your cylinder's markings someone will be able to tell you everything about them, maybe even the middle name of the guy who made them and what size belt he wears.

You should measure your old ring end gaps and piston land clearance. Then you will know. I have found that sometimes my old rings had smaller end gaps than a new set. Sometimes the piston ring lands have more than .004 inch clearance. If they do then you cannot re-ring but the old rings should be fine. Keep the rings on the pistons they came off of and keep the pistons in the same cylinder they came from. IMO there is less chance of a problem using the old rings than re-ringing. There are specs for these numbers in all the books. Typically I find piston rings with your mileage on them to be about half way to the wear limit.

-Andy