Engine ring gap issues

[androssstg44]

ive got a 1997 explorer block with a 4 inch factory bore. my new rings are wonky ? 28 thou top and 25 thou second. mahle 41497cp rings. i cant for the life of me find any info on these ring gap specs for these hyperutectic motors. they have factory hyper pistons and i believe these run different gap specs. my rings seem big lol. the old rings measured 32 thou top and 31 thou second. i think this is a factory unopened block. still have good cross hatch markings and im still in factory round spec in all 8 cylinders. this will be an NA block .

 

[evintho]

Factory specs on a '93 5.0 are;
Top ring 0.10 - 0.020
2nd ring 0.018 - 0.028

I'd assume a '97 block would be the same. I gapped mine at .018 top ring and .025 2nd ring.

 

[androssstg44]

Aren't your pistons cast though ? They can run tighter gaps then hyperutectics .

 

[96pushrod]

Aren't your pistons cast though ? They can run tighter gaps then hyperutectics .

Hyper are technically cast pistons.

.028 is sort of loose for what you’re doing. I’d probably cap the 2nd ring to a couple thou bigger than the top and run it though.