FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: dozz302 on November 16, 2018, 12:12:36 PM
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Hello, I'm going to purchase a piston ring compressor kit and I'm looking for any suggestions for a quality set. I'd probably get a set for small and big block ford. Thanks
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I've never used an expandable ring compressor (Lisle Tools, Snap-On) after buying a one-piece aluminum tapered compressor. I've installed many hundreds of pistons with the old-school compressors but finally bought a 4.03 bore tapered unit and wow, talk about slick! Not cheap, only fits one bore size (you'd need to buy a bunch) but is a piece of cake to use.
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS768US768&biw=1280&bih=689&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=pw_vW6KAHtTTjgSSlZaoCg&q=tapered+piston+ring+compressor&oq=ring+compressor%2C+tapered&gs_l=img.1.1.0i8i30l2.24520.26704..28565...0.0..0.112.653.7j2......1....1..gws-wiz-img.......0j0i30j0i5i30.1FPIyLOVHD0
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I make mine in the lathe. 4 degrees and i leave1/4 inch straight in the bottom with cyl dia. I dont like those expandabel after starting to use pistonring cones, newer again, no no no
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I’ve got 3 drawers of tapered ring compressors. Love em.
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So you have to buy it for the EXACT bore size?? To the .000? Wow
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Cheap though. Easy to buy one for 30 bucks, and if you look for coupons online, you can get them even cheaper.
I just picked a Proform version up from Advance Auto, free shipping, I had 20 bonus bucks and 30% off, cost me 2 dollars :)
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So you have to buy it for the EXACT bore size?? To the .000? Wow
Once you use one you will understand
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Yes, use it once and...you'll know.
Speed sometimes counts as well. One often has to futz around with the old school compressors to get the right 'fit'. Too tight and one can't drive the piston in. Too loose and more often than not one can snag a thin oil ring. Once had missed a thin ring that escaped the device and I bent the hell out of the oil ring. Had to await the morning to get a replacement ring set....just to get one stupid oil ring and finish the last piston install.
This would never happen with a tapered ring compressor!
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Just lightly oil the cone, place it on the block in with the piston
and swoop press it down easy peasy
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10/4 Thanks
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X5 or 6, but no need to buy one specific size and limit your use. Get one of these here. I have used mine a couple times on different sized pistons and metric rings, etc. Work great!
https://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/summit-racing-adjustable-piston-ring-compressors
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I have several of the Summit ones and they work great.
Once you've used the tapered ring compressor there's no going back.