Small Block Rings - Edelbrock - Super Chevy Magazine

The most important factor to keep in mind when choosing a ring set or deciding how much gap to run, is your engine's ultimate destination. Don't buy the high-dollar racing ring set for your mild motor because it may not make any more power, or last any longer than a stock ring set would. However, don't try to save a few bucks here either if you're building a motor that'll see some abuse, spend a few extra bucks on a good ring set. Many of today's street engines might see a dose of nitrous oxide, too; and as such could make good use of a ductile-iron ring set. The difference in price is negligible, but the difference in performance is immeasurable.

Dyno Testing Part 20
This month's test is being compared to Part 19-Test 34 from last month. For Part 20-Test 35, Speed-O-Motive replaced the standard-gap moly rings we were running before with a set of ductile iron, file-fit gapless top rings from Total Seal. The power increase we found was outstanding, considering that the gapless rings only cost about $100 more than standard set we were using. We also learned a few things about tuning for the lack of a ring gap and how it affects power (see: Tuning The Gap).

Danger Mouse specs from Part 19-Test 34 (last test from last month):
355 cid, 10:1 cr, 4.030-bore 4-bolt Motown block, 3.48-stroke Lunati crank, 5.7-inch Lunati rods, Edelbrock Victor Jr. heads (64cc chambers, 215cc runners, 2.08-inch intake valves, 1.60-inch exhaust valves), Victor Jr. intake, Mighty Demon 650 carb, COMP Cams Xtreme Energy solid roller camshaft installed at 105 intake CL (242/248 at .050, 280/286 adv, .600/.606 lift with COMP 1.6:1 rockers, 110 LS), 38 degrees total ignition advance
Danger Mouse specs for Part 20-Test 35:
Same as above, but with Total Seal ductile-iron gapless top rings (PN M3690 35)

We're always looking for new ideas. Do you have a better one for Danger Mouse? Send your test suggestions to:
Super Chevy Magazine
Attn: Danger Mouse
720 Hundley Way
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Or e-mail: terry.cole@primedia.com

	Test 34		Test 35		Difference
	Standard		Gapless
RPM	TQ	HP	TQ	HP	TQ	HP
2600	345	171	352	175	+8	+4
2800	362	193	373	199	+11	+6
3000	371	212	384	220	+13	+8
3200	374	228	387	236	+13	+8
3400	374	242	381	247	+7	+5
3600	387	265	389	266	+2	+1
3800	398	288	403	291	+5	+3
4000	396	302	405	309	+9	+7
4200	393	314	407	326	+14	+12
4400	402	337	416	349	+14	+12
4600	415	364	430	376	+15	+12
4800	428	391	440	402	+12	+11
5000	435	414	448	427	+13	+12
5200	440	436	452	448	+12	+12
5400	441	453	453	466	+12	+13
5600	439	468	450	479	+11	+11
5800	433	478	444	490	+11	+12
6000	428	489	435	496	+7	+7
6200	420	496	420	495	0	-1
6400	412	502	407	496	-5	-6
6600	401	504	398	494	-1	-10

Max	441	504	453	497	+15/-5	+13/-10
Avg	404	359	413	366	+9	+7

Like all new metal parts, rings need time to break-in. Total Seal's Quick Seat lubricating powder adds an easy-to-apply film that aids rings seal and lessens break-in time.
Like all new metal parts, rings need time to break-in. Total Seal's Quick Seat lubricating
To keep this month's test valid, we left every part exactly the same from last month, and only changed the rings to see what kind of power they'd make.
To keep this month's test valid, we left every part exactly the same from last month, and
The bottom line is: we coulda done better. Or so we learned after we placed a call to Total Seal and discussed our results. If we had increased the high-speed air bleed size (arrows), effectively leaning out the top end of the fuel curve, we wouldn't have lost the power up there, says Total Seal. Their testing has shown gapless rings pull more vacuum at higher rpm and therefore will also pull more fuel causing the engine to run rich at the top end. A review of our fuel curve confirmed this to some extent, but we didn't see a huge difference in the Lambda Air/Fuel readings from low to high rpm, so we never thought to change the air bleeds. Also, Total Seal recommends running less ignition advance with gapless rings, because peak cylinder pressure comes just a bit sooner and therefore the combustion process begins that much quicker. Unfortunately, the engine was off the dyno before we could test either of these theories. But, we trust the information from Total Seal and have no reason to doubt its validity.
The bottom line is: we coulda done better. Or so we learned after we placed a call to Tota