Ring Gap?

93ragtop said
I am working on a 2000 5.9 engine. So far, I have honed the cyl. replaced the cam brgs, and installed a reman. crank and bearings (turned 10-10) from advanced auto.
Now, to my question.
I have a set of Enginetech rings. M40018-STD. Using the orig. pistons.
The FSM says the gap should be .012-.022 on top ring and .022-.031 on second ring.
When I slide the top ring in, it is .026 to .027. Pretty even the whole way, till I go all the way to the bottom where nothing has run. There it is still .024. So according to specs, its too loose.
The second ring measures .021...... which should be .022-.031.

The motor is going back stock, other then a carb intake, holley 670 and maybe headers.
Only drive about 4000 miles a year.
Is the top ring being .026 (specs say 012-.022) going to cause problems?
Should I open the second ring to at least as large as the top ring?

Thanks for your advice.

It's a re ring, just make sure the bottom tight spot doesnt close the ring gap below spec and you're good.
Fwiw I never run a bigger second ring Gap than the top I almost always leave the second ring within a stock spec until nitrous comes into play. Those are hyperuetectic pistons and do require more gap to compensate for the heat the piston puts into them. Hypers deflect heat, they are high silicon content and dont really grow at all...so the ring, which is iron or steel grows instead and the gap closes, rings can butt ..and the piston head comes off.

Second ring @.018 is fine...or .024 will work... not ideal, but you wont know the diff.
.028 top ring sounds good.