The new 0.030" oversize aluminum pistons we ordered arrived the other day, so today I began removing the connecting rods from the four-ring cast iron pistons that were in this 1924 engine. To no one's surprise (especially mine), two of the four connecting rods had been installed backwards with the wrist pin bolts facing the driver's side instead of the camshaft. From what I have seen with this engine, that's the LEAST of the stupid/careless things the Einstein "restorer" did to this engine. I won't go into more detail, as you've already read a few of the gory details if you have been following this painful story.
I had hand-fitted the 0.040" rings that we bought to compensate for wear in the cylinders of the oddball-sized 0.031" pistons since boring out to 0.040" cylinders is not an option at this time. The oil ring (#3) in this new set turned out to be too tall for the cast iron pistons, as I have written previously, so that's why we had to order the 0.030" pistons. I began installing the rings after the connecting rods were swapped, USING THE SPECIAL RING EXPANDER TOOL. The very second ring I tried to install went POP!~ and broke in two! C'mon!!! I didn't have it spread all that far apart, but it broke nevertheless. It was then I noticed that Grant had put two different 2nd ring styles in this package: two with a beveled edge and two with a step. I am wondering if this set of rings was thrown together late on a Friday afternoon just before quitting time out of a box of defective rings? For a NEW ring to snap with minimal spreading pressure and have two different style rings for the same ring groove is not confidence inspiring for this company. Anyway, the translation is I need the second ring for aluminum pistons in either 0.030" or 0.040" oversized. I prefer the 0.040" so that I can file the end gap for that cylinder, but will take 0.030". I don't want to buy a whole new set just to get one lousy ring, but I will buy a set for one piston if need be.
Does anyone have an incomplete/broken set of either 0.030" or 0.040" rings they'd sell me? I want this %#$&^*% car out of my life and it ain't happening until these pistons are installed with new rings! I will also place an ad in the classified section of this website. HELP!!!
Marshall, the Pitiful One
