12v ring material

[seancrete]

I am wondering what the piston ring materials are in a 12 valve. I am slowly rebuilding one. I have a rebuild set from Interstate McBee. Also they look like they might have coatings, at least the top ring does. Anyone know what these are?

Sean

 

[seancrete]

Really?

Nobody knows what the rings are made from?

The 2nd looks like cast iron.

 

[Mark Nixon]

Whatever they are made of, heat in the common rails destroy them.
I'm thinking something along the lines of a version of spring or high carbon steel, because they sure don't care for a lot of heat.

I say this, because you can take a good top ring and twist and bend it quite a ways before it'll finally break.
I have used them to clean rings grooves before and it's a bit of a fight to break them.

Unless you're smart and use vice grips or a grinder.

Mark.

 

[seancrete]

Did they change the material along the way? Or maybe the CR rings are very close to the top of the piston?

I'm using the non-intercooled pistons so the top ring is low.

 

[JL Builders]

Mine are tool steel. From total seal rings.
Not sure on stock stuff