I got a set of 40 over pistons and total seal rings from howell with my kit. I took them to the machine shop to get the rings gaped with the other work I was getting done and he said the rings were already at 24 thousandths. Should I not go with total seal or should I just keep these?

What brand is the piston? Your machinist matched his bore to the brand of piston correct? which ring is he talking about (comp ring) ? You might want to do a search on the total seals. 24, in general, is too big for me.

yeah it's the JE 8.8:1 (8.6:1 as howell puts it). The machine shop did the bore and hone to the piston, and I'm guessing it's the oil rings that are too big. I don't really know. I'm going to get the part number tomorrow and see if howell sent me the ones for the 30 over pistons. That would make the gap to big if its a ring designed for a smaller born, correct?

I'm not an expert at rings but I'll let you know what my problem was. I ordered some replacement rings to fit a 40 overbore. All the rings fit fine except for the oil ring had to much wooble to it. Took it to a machine shop and they told me because I had long rods I need an extra ring for the oil groove. Its called a rail support.

Hope that helps you out.

Originally posted by RS-T
I'm not an expert at rings but I'll let you know what my problem was. I ordered some replacement rings to fit a 40 overbore. All the rings fit fine except for the oil ring had to much wooble to it. Took it to a machine shop and they told me because I had long rods I need an extra ring for the oil groove. Its called a rail support. Hope that helps you out.

This is right, i have the same pistons and rings bored 40 over. My oil ring did look big and i didnt put the rail support in. Well, guess what happened when i was done last week. A ton of oil sitting on top of the piston due to oil going right by the oil ring and smoking like a chimney out the exhaust. Not installing the rail support will cause this and i had to learn the hard way. I just ordered a new set since i thru the rail supports away when i installed everything else. You will need it with the long rods, i searched on here and found that out. Install that and you should be fine.

Originally posted by talonesiracing
I'm going to get the part number tomorrow and see if howell sent me the ones for the 30 over pistons.

Which would be special order and drop shipped from JE... .030 over is not a shelfed part.

i called howell and they told me the gap was okay at .024. My machine shop is telling me other wise.

Originally posted by talonesiracing
My machine shop is telling me other wise.

So am I. Definitive answer; call JE and tell them which ring and your application (turbo, non, high comp etc). This will give you support.

Well, IIRC, the stock gap on the top ring is like .019" or .020"

Originally posted by DarkOne
Well, IIRC, the stock gap on the top ring is like .019" or .020"

Yeah, I'm presuming that his shop is talking about the comp ring. I believe I used .019 on my 12.5 JE's. The only reason I could see .024 is if you are going turbo with high rev. You add some to the gap for expansion. I suspect that Howell is saying that so they don't have it come back.