The V8 Owners Forum -

Quite a while back my newly built 4.0 engine, had a camshaft failure after less than 20 miles.
I've since re-used this block to make a 4.6.
I've still got the old 4.6 block and all the 4.0 parts.
So if I rebuilt this as a spare engine. could I re-use the rings, or would I have to fit new ones.
I know there not that expensive, but there not that cheap either, plus there the time to fit them.

Thanks
Leigh

Hi,
I presume you have a newly honed surface on the bores (as you have a longer throw crank in there). If so I would run 2000 grit emery paper on a lolly stick twice or three times over each ring, around the ring just to give a very light scuff to the ring surface, I literally mean two or three passes over the surface, you are trying to give a light scuff at 90 degrees to the direction the ring will travel. When you come to run the engine up the first time take it straight up to 2500 revs for about 20 to 30 seconds before settling into the normal cam bedding in routine. In the past I have reused rings with quite alot of success, but you seam to need to get them to bed in straight away or they won't bed in at all.
Best regards
Mike