Replacing rings

[jsho]

Maybe I'm dumb, but is it possible to pull the pistons out the bottom of the engine? I bought this car: all new bearings, but not rings

 

[revhardSHO]

You have to remove the heads and pull the pistons out the top. You'd have to swap in new HGs, which is cheap enough if you have a 3.0L ($29.99) but a 3.2L will cost you big time, the gaskets are obsolete.

 

[jelloslug]

Is there a need to replace the rings? The rings usually don't go bad in these cars. My old 3.0 still had the score mark on the cylinder walls when I did the bearings at 165k miles.

 

[rangerj]

Before you pull the heads do a compression test. If compression is OK there is no need to replace the rings. If compression is low squirt some oil in the cylinder. If the compression comes up with the oil added, then it would indicate worn rings.

Note that low compression can be caused by a head gasket problem, valve or valve seat problems, or worn rings. So, do some diagnostics before you start spending money unnecessarily. rangerj

 

[jsho]

thanks guys, I just thought since the bearing were all replaced, maybe replacing the rings would be one step closer to being completely rebuilt. If it's not nessesary and would be more work then expected, I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[AREA 91]

In the few SHO engines I have rebuilt, there is usually a lot of buildup in the oil control rings. One engine in perticular was so bad, that the oil control rings wouldn't even spin in the ring land. Just an FYI.