ok....so maybe im just missing something but this IS my First engine im putting together starting with a bare block and im having a hard time putting the pistons in....the piston ring compressor i got from autozone wont compress ALL the rings equally at the same time so it wont slide down in the cylinder easy. does anyone know what im doing wrong? any advice?

 

"the piston ring compressor i got from autozone wont compress ALL the rings equally at the same time"

:S pic? is it all f*cked up?

should look like this

 

It could be the tapered type as well, in that case you want the wider end up and the smaller end flush with the block, and GENTLY tap the pistons in with a mallet using the wooden handle, or preferred if you have a plastic handled mallet. Be careful not to break the rings. If you have good pistons and rings with a bit of clearance you should be able to just push them in by hand.

 

it looks just like that...it will compress one side but not the other side of the piston all the way.....make since?

 

Sounds like the rings might be the wrong size then maybe? can you put in one of the rings in the block cylinder alond and have some clearance between where the 2 ends meet? I forget what the gap size should be there.

 

.....no im 98.9999% sure they are the right size.maybe i just need to pay more attention and make sure i align the piston in the piston ring compressor and make sure the piston aint tilted any inside?

 

Make sure its lined up right..Also, there inst a ridge at the top of the cylinders are there? Did you cut that out?

 

Are they pregapped or file to fit rings?

 

make sure the tool is seated properly on top of the bore and I use the handle on a wooden mallet and when it gets close to the bore...meaning ring location I give it a few quick taps so it jumps past quick

 

yes, read the ring size on the box...
is your block bored?
stock bore is 4.000
normally people get the wall bored to 4.030 when they do a rebuild.
the rings need around .020 gap if i remember correctly, for n/a, i could be off by a little, so check w/ the manufacturer.

dude, the first time i went to put pistons in, i took my file to fit rings, 4.035 in size and tried to stick them in a 4.030 bore, all but the top ring would go in and then it would break, learned the hard freakin way.

if you have not done this before, i would be very careful and take your time and ask ALOT of questions and get some good help/ advice at the min. its easy to screw up on the bottom end and have it bite you, i know from experience lol