Re: [T3] rings

[Tunaitis@aol.com]

In a message dated 04/25/2001 5:37:28 PM Central Daylight Time, 
russella@prairieinet.net writes:

> > It is a little tricky to get the clips that stop the wrist pins in place ,
>  > but with the engine out, and a little thought it works.( see that you 
have
>  > to assemble it in a certain order, so you can each time knock in one 
wrist
>  > pin and insert the cylinder fully.)
>  >
>  > I should know I've done it twice already.
>  > Herman
>  >
>  >
>  But for the cost of a VW ring compressor from your local Foriegn car parts
>  store, ($8-10), why hassle with doing it that way. I have a couple  that I
>  think I got from KD tools, or they are OTC, that I use all the time. I also
>  have the genuine VW factory compressors. I prefer the cheap ones, to the
>  factory ones, as one size fits all, and I don't have to look for the 
"right"
>  one. Doing it the other way, you are takeing a chance on a snap ring not
>  getting installed properly, and scoring a cylinder, or tearing a cylinder
>  base gasket.
>  
>  Just my 2 cents.
>  
>  Russ Wolfe

    Thank you, Russ.  My point all along has been that whichever method you 
choose for installing pistons,  it is advisable to have a ring compressor 
capable of the "cylinder over installed piston" method.  Of course, for 
anybody familiar with VW engine assembly there is more than one way to skin a 
cat.  However, as you build your engine things come up.  Sometimes, you get a 
little ahead of yourself and forget a cylinder base gasket.  Or maybe your 
engine has the cylinder head studs installed; don't make the hassle worse!  
Perhaps the rings are installed but there are still questions about deck 
height and where you'll install the shims.  I must say that if you are 
installing pistons whose wrist pins aren't a slip fit at room temp there's 
only one easy way to approach it.  
    Anybody experienced in building VW engines will likely have a ring 
compressor capable of either installation method.  If they don't, they're 
either damn good or really bad.  So, the bottom line is if you are going to 
go out and buy a ring compressor,  buy the simple cheapo steel band that can 
do the job either way.  Then you can decide which method you prefer.

        --  Mike T.
    1964 1500s Notchback w/ sunroof
    1965 German spec Beetle
    2000 New Beetle GLS     
    

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