Cylinder Honing

[Petraszewsky]

Which is better for honing stock Iron LS2 Sleeves?

Silicone Carbide or Aluminum Oxide?

I plan on using 320 grit of whichever material that will provide the best hone...Any opinions?

[Petraszewsky]

I just went ahead with the Silicone Carbide because of it properties over the Aluminum Oxide...

[racer7088]

Depends on what stones they are. We use both. Are you talking Sunnen?

[Petraszewsky]

I'm using a Flex-Hone with the globules...I've read that it provides a better cross hatch pattern...

[Petraszewsky]

I tried the Flex-Hone out today to see what it would do...I'm pleased with the results..I do have to go over the two cylinders some more though...

[Petraszewsky]

How much can you take off with honing and still use stock piston rings?

[racer7088]

not a whole lot and not usually enough to get everything cleaned up but half a thousandth to a thousandth has been done quite a bit by quite a few people. Just depends on how bad your cylinders are already.

[Petraszewsky]

It's just Cylinder #7... everything else is cleaning up nicely....With about thousandth of room to play then I should be completely fine....I'll just have to take my time....

[Petraszewsky]

Does anyone know the ring end gap specs for stock LS2 piston rings? Also on cylinder #7 the pitting can not be caught be a fingernail..But you can feel it with your finger tip...How adversly will this affect piston ring sealing? And how much would I be looking at to have a shop hone that one cylinder? Can you help me out ASAP?!?!Thanks for you replys..

[racer7088]

Originally Posted by Petraszewsky

Does anyone know the ring end gap specs for stock LS2 piston rings? Also on cylinder #7 the pitting can not be caught be a fingernail..But you can feel it with your finger tip...How adversly will this affect piston ring sealing? And how much would I be looking at to have a shop hone that one cylinder? Can you help me out ASAP?!?!Thanks for you replys..

I can't really see anuthing so I can't tell you anything for sure but if you can't feel it or it is subsurface you shoulc be fine in general.

[Petraszewsky]

Originally Posted by racer7088

I can't really see anuthing so I can't tell you anything for sure but if you can't feel it or it is subsurface you shoulc be fine in general.

I'll post up some pics tomorrow...But until then does this sound about right for the stock rings? I'm not a professional engine builder by any means so thanks for all the help...Oh and for the 1st and 2nd compression rings do you know if the dot faces upward or downwards on both?
Piston Ring End Gap - First Compression Ring - Measured in Cylinder Bore - Production
0.20-0.41 mm
0.008-0.016 in

Piston Ring End Gap - Second Compression Ring - Measured in Cylinder Bore - Production
0.37-0.69 mm
0.015-0.027 in

Piston Ring End Gap - Oil Control Ring - Measured in Cylinder Bore - Production
0.22-0.79 mm
0.009-0.031 in

[racer7088]

Originally Posted by Petraszewsky

I'll post up some pics tomorrow...But until then does this sound about right for the stock rings? I'm not a professional engine builder by any means so thanks for all the help...Oh and for the 1st and 2nd compression rings do you know if the dot faces upward or downwards on both?
Piston Ring End Gap - First Compression Ring - Measured in Cylinder Bore - Production
0.20-0.41 mm
0.008-0.016 in

Piston Ring End Gap - Second Compression Ring - Measured in Cylinder Bore - Production
0.37-0.69 mm
0.015-0.027 in

Piston Ring End Gap - Oil Control Ring - Measured in Cylinder Bore - Production
0.22-0.79 mm
0.009-0.031 in

Dots face up. Ring gaps should be .015 / .025 / .015

[Petraszewsky]

Thanks for the help... I did a quick check on cylinder #5 and 1st ring= .018 and 2nd ring= .027 ....How tight should my gauges be in the gap? As tight as possible while keeping the rings squared correct?

[racer7088]

Originally Posted by Petraszewsky

Thanks for the help... I did a quick check on cylinder #5 and 1st ring= .018 and 2nd ring= .027 ....How tight should my gauges be in the gap? As tight as possible while keeping the rings squared correct?

Yes as long as you don't force them in and it sounds like you are good.

[Petraszewsky]

Here's a pic of cylinder #7 and #6...#7 is worse than #6...The bore taper on #7 right now is .005 ....I'm going to hone it some more...The pictures make it look worse than what it is in real life....You can't feel any of it with your finger tip..Also thanks for not bashing and actually helping...

The thinnest gauge I have is .0015 and if I tightly put across a flat surface I can definitely feel it and catch my fingernail on it...So the markings are less than .0015 deep....

[racer7088]

Originally Posted by Petraszewsky

Here's a pic of cylinder #7 and #6...#7 is worse than #6...The bore taper on #7 right now is .005 ....I'm going to hone it some more...The pictures make it look worse than what it is in real life....You can't feel any of it with your finger tip..Also thanks for not bashing and actually helping...

The thinnest gauge I have is .0015 and if I tightly put across a flat surface I can definitely feel it and catch my fingernail on it...So the markings are less than .0015 deep....

I think it will run for sure but probably just won't be perfect. It doesn't look too bad from here though at least.

[Petraszewsky]

The other cylinders look perfect...What I'm afraid of is the rings not sealing properly in #6 and #7 ...Or breakage...Will it make more noise with those areas being the way they are?

[racer7088]

I doubt you will have any noise but the rings may wear out faster on these bores as time goies on.

I only know that it won't "help" the rings to be on this finish but they still might cope better than expected.

[Petraszewsky]

Once again I'll take some more pics tomorrow..It looks a lil better now...I started to clean the block with some soapy water and got some "flash" type rust on the cylinder walls now and it won't wipe off with mineral spirits and rag..WTF?!?!

[racer7088]

yes when you clean a cylinder that happens unless you use anti rust or WD40 right away.