The Great Pumpkin - '71 Duster

One more thing - I mentioned in my previous post that the 1st and 2nd rings had different characteristics when cutting, the 2nd rings cut very easily while the first took way longer. Well no ****, Sherlock, they are of course made from completely different materials.

The first ring is stainless and is much more rigid to be able to withstand the initial combustion blast. The second is cast iron and much softer. I had a fleeting thought they were different material when I was cutting them but I was concentrating on doing the job and it didn't really register in the front of my brain.

I called Total Seal to ask them a question about oil control ring gap and I asked why the second rings were so much easier to cut - it's because they are in fact softer material. Doh.