Piston Rings!
 

This seems to have been a hit and miss item of interest in the past. Since I'm rebuilding the engine with OEM pistons, I'm trying to find out what people are currently using with good success, or products to avoid.

I've found some companies that supply them for around $100 and up, and then there are kits on eBay as cheap as $40 that claim to be just as strong.

So what's being used and what works well while maintaining a good budget?

Would be tight to get the measurements of the ring sets and order a nice set of rings from someone like wiseco. You would have baller rings then that wouldnt give out under higher boost.

Off topic, but kind of on topic..

the rings went on my cyl 4, would it be a fair idea to just replace the rings and any gaskets along the way if I dont want to do a full build? Or is it something that is so deep in the motor, I may as well do rods and pistons ect (which is outside my budget)

Most here will say that while its apart build it. But if you just want to keep it stock then gettign a new gasket set, some rings, and a hone will make it like new. Inspect your bearings while its apart. Replace any that look like they may be wearing. Depending on the oil used and how the motor was treated on cold start, many bearings will look good as new for 100's of 1000's of miles.

Well, may not amount to much, but emailed Wiseco about OEM sized rings. I'll wait and see what the reply is.

naarleven, neogenesis hit it pretty much on the head. Nothing wrong with stock I think, just may not be as forgiving when you do end up with a turbo on the car. As long as you aren't attempting for huge power numbers, you should be fine. I know there are quite a few boosted Miatas that are way up in miles on a completely stock engine.

Anyway, still searching and looking for first-hand experience here.

They will likely make you whatever sized rings you want, you might need to supply them with measurements though.

I ordered an set of OEM replacement rings from my local auto parts store. They fit in nicely, but we have to wait and see how they do once it runs.

Hrmm, has anyone checked if there's a difference between n/a miata rings and B6T rings? If the B6Ts are beefier then that would be a no-brainer, but I have a gut feeling they're the same.

If you gap them properly they should run like oem.

It has more to do with the materials and the tension of the rings than how "beefy" they are. You obviously can't use bigger rings than stock on stock pistons because the ring groove has a definite measurement that can't be enlarged (or would be a huge waste to try).

Beefy, in my mind at least, isn't necessarily a measure of size. Think of "beefier" as a synonym for "stronger" in my post and it'll make more sense. :)

Mmmmm, beefy

B6T rings won't help a 1.8L I don't believe. So no good for me.

1 last question, is this an appropriately priced and equipped rebuild package?

http://www.performance-auto-parts.co...kits-mazda.php

d'oh, missed that.

There are a few different metals you can use, and any machine shop should be able to order whatever you want. Their ring catalogs go off of type and size, so they won't know a specific "miata" ring, but if you give them a piston they'll be able to get exactly whatever you want.

I went with a moly ring on the reccomendation of my machine shop, the same rings John Urist uses in his turbo mustangs. The wiseco rings are usually a very good stainless steel but typically on the thin side which is good and bad.