When building spec engines, where all of the parts have to be stock and identifiable as such, it was common to work first on the ring package. The stock rings have huge tension, so as to still be working when half worn away at 150,000 miles. The oil scraper is especially bad, as it has two scraper rails or, is cast with two scrapers. In both cases the spring that controls pressure on the scrapers is defeated to the extent that very little pressure is left on the back of the scrapers.

 

The second ring is turned orange with a propane torch and then collapsed around the second groove. So that it never touches anything. Not much drag there. The top ring is a . 010" oversized with a step on top of one end and the bottom of the other. So from the top it appeared to have no gap. That ring was overheated to red and pushed into the bore to cool. It did seal enough to get the job done. And had little drag. So, it sealed better than 2 rings, and had less drag than one. The second ring in most engines are tapered face oil scraper, and don't seal anything until the taper is worn off. The oil scraper could just do its job and had no detectable drag.  Multiply the drag numbers times the stroke, times 4 times the number of cylinders times the RPM and a fair estimate of the power gain or loss is available. So a perfectly stock 1600CC VW single port engine rated at 40 HP can give you 60 HP. A perfectly stock 1600CC 60 HP Ford (71 Pinto) can give you 135 HP.

 

The difference with a spring scale was less than one pound and little hysterises compared to 4 pounds and a ton of hysterises. When the piston stops at the top and bottom of the bore doesn't want to start moving again. And takes more to start it moving than to keep it moving. So the reduction of drag (friction) is a very big deal. The drag not generated not only ups the HP, it does it with little added heat.

 

You need a spring scale or fish scale to see any difference. I don't think even an inch pound torque wrench will give you a fine enough reading. Or even hanging weights on a lever may be needed.

 

Lynn E. Hanover

 

 

In a message dated 4/11/2008 7:37:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time, echristley@nc.rr.com writes: