Low vs STD tension rings

[ironside]

Hello. Curious what you guys run. I assume low tension also equates to less hp loss in rotation? Is seal ever an issue etc?
I have a 440 with trw 2295 pistons and looking for a little help in what direction to go. Replacing the ones in it presently but can't find my receipts of what I put in years ago.
Thanks in advance.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

if your running a vacuum pump then low tensile rings are a huge plus. otherwise standard rings are fine.

 

[ironside]

No vacuum pump for me. I've thought about them but being what it is, low 10's, I'm thinking it would probably be more overkill. Thank you.

 

[perfweld]

You dont need a vaccum pump to run low tension rings, thats incorrect. I race a NHRA 340 Barracuda E/SA and the ring pack in it is super low tension, were not allowed pan evac. or air pumps. The ring pack and hone is a critical part of the engine. But I wouldnt got there in your situation. When you backcut a ring you cant get the engine hot or youll kill the rings, theres just no tension on them. You can make more power by maybe using a ring with a happy medium. Id call Greg Luneack at Tri City Machine 760-630-9094. He does the hone and the rings on my car, and probably half the Stock Elim. cars out there, im sure he has a good street strip ring pack hes designed.

Mark Lelchook
Performance Welding
Racing Headers

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

You dont need a vaccum pump to run low tension rings, thats incorrect.

You can run the low tension rings but you wont get the benefit from them w/o a pump. they will work but why would you run them w/o a pump.:tongue3:

 

[perfweld]

That was a dumb question but ill answer it anyways. Friction. How the heck do you think we get almost 500 hp out of a 340 cid engine with stock cylinder heads, stock intake, stock carb, stock config. bottom end , and no port work allowed. Its all the little things that guys like you overlook. The air pump just helps seal the ring pack, its not a requirement. If the hone is correct, the rings will seal in a few passes down the track.

Mark Lelchook
F/SA NHRA National Record Holder

 

[ironside]

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking like you said to just stay with STD tension as I don't have the time at the moment to match the hone to a ring set since the engine is still in the car. Plus for a bracket car a couple hp for me is not critical.
Thanks for the help.
PerfWeld you guys make some killer headers!!!

 

[383man]

I stay with standard rings because my cars are street cars that I drive alot. If you have a street car I would definetly stay with standard tension rings. Ron

 

[ironside]

It's a strip only car. Ordered a set of Diamond standard tensions from Mancini tonight, and all the other gaskets and good stuff. We'll see in a week or two if there is much difference. Thanks for the help.

 

[moparpoor]

That was a dumb question but ill answer it anyways. Friction. How the heck do you think we get almost 500 hp out of a 340 cid engine with stock cylinder heads, stock intake, stock carb, stock config. bottom end , and no port work allowed. Its all the little things that guys like you overlook. The air pump just helps seal the ring pack, its not a requirement. If the hone is correct, the rings will seal in a few passes down the track.

Mark Lelchook
F/SA NHRA National Record Holder

Correct me if I am wrong,you are only running or allowed to run 10 to 1 compression only roughly.Really no issues to seal it up.The low tension rings and minimal piston drag is to help you rev those motors to the moon to make the 500hp correct.Now for the other guys running larger compression ratios 12 to 1 or larger need some help to seal up things a little.There is a middle ground for both worlds,but when the compression is excessive or tolerances are excessive you will need a vaccum pump or evac correct.

 

[perfweld]

The high compression 340 is almost 12 to 1 when its properly blueprinted to the correct specs. By all means an air pump is the way to go, youll always make more power with an air pump, but we cant use one. My whole point is that you dont have to have an air pump to run a low tension ring pack. In fact I garuntee the rings I use are lower tension that most guys use with air pumps, unless its a Comp Elim. or Pro stock Engine. A low tension ring pack has nothing to do with PRM, it has to do with friction. On our Stock Elim engines we have to find every way to make more power, every part is looked at, ring seal, hone and low tension rings are an important part of the rotating assembly. My point is you can seal a engine up with the correct hone and a ultra low tension ring, but its just not for street strip cars.

Mark Lelchook

 

[Endangered Species]

If you're running a class where there are limitations to what you can do to the motor then low tension is the ticket. Stock Eliminator or S/S. I have friends we race with who run SS/DA 67 RO23 Belvedere and they tried gas porting the pistions to get a better seal and it killed the motor because of the excess ring drag. Keep in mind they can't go any biger than a .30 over 426 Hemi so you don't have the torque to over come the drag. That's why they go with low tension rings and hope the machinist knows how to hone a bore. Hey in those classes if you can pick up .001 or .002 ET it's worth it.

For a street car definatly go with the standard tension rings. You over heat that baby once and the low tension rings are junk.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

that was a dumb question but ill answer it anyways. Friction. How the heck do you think we get almost 500 hp out of a 340 cid engine with stock cylinder heads, stock intake, stock carb, stock config. Bottom end , and no port work allowed. Its all the little things that guys like you overlook. The air pump just helps seal the ring pack, its not a requirement. If the hone is correct, the rings will seal in a few passes down the track.

Mark lelchook
f/sa nhra national record holder

who had the dumb question?
I'm curious.