Piston Ring Spacing

[quadman21]

What's a good rule of thumb on how far to space your ring gaps from one another to prevent it from smoking when you install your piston?

[spliffy]

360 Degrees In A Circle & You Have 3 Rings....So I Have Always Spaced Them Out 120 Degrees Apart , Never Had A Problem Yet.

[skemp]

120 is the magic number for me. Never fails :D

[quadman21]

That's pretty much what I've tried to do or so I think. What about the 3 piece oil ring? I've spaced the gaps (on the oil ring) 180 degrees apart and in line with the piston pin, then the top two as best of 120 apart as possible. Am I missing something or does the gaps on the oil ring even matter?

[spliffy]

Ive Always Not Done The Oil Rings Inline With The Piston Pin.... Just What I Was Told Years Ago , That If They Are Lined Up With The Pin That That Could Pop Off (Somehow)... I Don't Understand Why, I Just Listened & Did It That Way, I Have Always Gone 90 Degrees Off Of The Pin , One Gap In Front & One Gap On The Back.

[quadman21]

Alright, I'll buy that. I just have done the oil ring gaps in line with the pin because that's how the orange paper directions from weisco say to do it. But regardless whether its 180 in line with the pin or 180 in line with the intake and exhast, how would you space the top two? See, I know that 120 is what is recomended but when you think about it, you actually have four ring gaps to worry about and how could you get 120 apart when you start with the oil ring gaps at 180 from each other? IN theory, you would have to place the oil ring gaps the same to get a true 120 apart.:confused:

[spliffy]

well... first off.... if you Have directions... FOLLOW THEM , thats why they give them to you.... & then just stagger the oil ring where it goes together in one spot & then go 120 degrees for each of the other 2 rings.