GT6 GT6 Con Rod Bolts & Grant Piston Rings?

[dklawson]

It's time to put the GT6 engine back together and I have two questions.

1) I have County pistons that came with Grant rings. I have heard that with the oil control rings you are supposed to fit the corrugated ring so its ends butt up against each other and not lap over each other. If I do that the corrugated ring seems way too big. Can someone elaborate on how the rings are supposed to be installed? Also, do you fit the corrugated ring first then the two flat oil control rings?

2) When I took the old rod bolts out there was evidence of petrified Loctite on the threads. I am not used to using Loctite on rod bolts (non-Triumph engines). Is it common and/or advisable to use Loctite on con rod bolts with the GT6 engine?

Thanks in advance for any and all comments/suggestions.

Doug L.

 

[poolboy]

For sure with the TR6 the expander/spacer ends butt. On mine the ends were green and red. You had to see both colors after installation to be sure they were abutted. After the center was install instructions say to install the other 2 oil control rings, bottom then top, as I recall.
The oil control rings won't actually touch the back of the piston's groove, they will rest on tabs on the expander/spacer. That's why it must go on before the oil control rings.

 

[dklawson]

That makes sense about the oil control rings. Out of curiosity, did the corrugated ring "puff" out a lot from the piston prior to fitting the flat oil control rings?

Any comments on Loctite?

 

[poolboy]

I seem to remember that the oil control rings in their uncompressed state stuck out more than the expander. If the expander ends overlapped by one segment during their installation it would be flush against the bottom (back) of the groove. On several occassions I had to straighten out an overlap that occurred while installing the oil control rings.
Keep in mind there's no gap so they can't stand out too proud or the ring compressor would deform them.
Personally, I don't have any comments about Loctite one way or the other.

 

[TomMull]

Don't know if loctite helps or hinders but it is certainly not necessary. Tom

 

[dklawson]

Thanks all.

I made sure to but the corrugated oil control rings end to end without overlap. The assembled rings were a bit difficult to work with but in the end were OK.

The pistons are in the block and bearing caps installed with their bolts lubed but no Loctite.

Doug L.