does a bad oil ring affect compression? i have 145 in the cylinder that is in question, but am burning oil in that cylinder. i'm having the heads redone now and hope that is the problem so i don't have to go into the bottom end.

my compression ranges from 140 - 155. as i said the "oil pumping' cylinder is 145.

 

No there is very litte tension on the oil ring package. Is it burning while driving or on startup?

 

sometimes it is bad at start up and sometimes it is not. it smokes all the time. it is worse if it sits idleing for a while, like when i'm adjusting my idle mixture or setting the timing, and then you goose it.

 

well guaranteed the heads need valve seals and possible guides also.

 

No....You have two compression rings. The top one's job is mainly to cause the compression, the intermediate compression ring not only helps the top one, but also helps the oil ring keet the oil off the walls. You can still have good compression with a bad oil ring. Let's just hope your overhauled heads were the problem with that cylinder.

 

thanks, i'm having the heads done and i hope that solves it. will let you know.

 

while i have everything torn down - i'm going to remove the #1 piston from the top...and let a local speed shop examine it. will i have trouble getting it back in from the top? any special tool or tricks i need to know?