AA piston rings and retainers

[Glenn]

So i'm building a 2110 for a Bus and purchased a set of AA 90.5 pistons and cylinders. I was surprised to find an box that has a set of rings and wrist pin snap rings.

I called CB and was told they've seen the AA rings break, so they include better rings and retainers.

Anyone experience a problem with AA piston rings and wrist pin snap rings?
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

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[rugblaster]

So it's, "Here is this junk we just sold you, and here is some stuff to make this junk less shitty." thanks, I guess.
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[Glenn]

[modok]

In the past sometimes AA kits came with white box grant rings, which are no different than I usually use and recommend.
But other times they come with rings of unknown origin that are clearly different.
So it depends.

Now, the other problems I found in the 92 kits was the ends of the piston pin was not cut square, and that will cause problems if severe enough.
I only found one that was terrible but none was perfect.

[Glenn]

[rugblaster]

[ORANGECRUSHer]

So are you saying you purchased AA kit from CB and CB added a second set of rings to the set?

The set of 90.5 P/C I got from directly from AA last year had rings that didn't seat. Had to tear down, hone, and install a set of separately purchased Grants from Brian.
If you got a second set that are Grants I would use those. That should be a no-brainer. I thought I would challenge the nay-sayers by using the rings that came with the AA's and I lost the bet. In the future I think I'd rather spend an extra $50 than chance having to tear my motor down when the rings don't seat well enough and introducing all the potential for problems rebuilding makes. But then again, Glen, I bet you might be doing a little more with your engines to make sure the rings seat in the first place than a newbie like myself did. I should have honed my cylinders instead of relying on the finish AA put on them. Maybe that was the problem and not the rings? They measured good when I installed them. I didn't even have to gap them. Now that I have a hone that won't be an issue with the next engine.
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT

[Glenn]

Already did, they're on and the heads are on.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

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[Dan_Lockwood]

I have the AA Hypereutectic 94's and was told by someone on here to get Grant rings. I did and now have the originals and the Grants. It will be the Grants that go into the build when I'm at that point.

Good luck Glenn

Dan

[Multi69s]

Glenn, I hope everything goes well for you. When I bought my 96mm Type 4 kit from AA, the rings didn't have the right "feel" as I was putting them on the pistons. Turns out they never seated, lots of blow by. Called AA about the Grant ring they offered, but they couldn't give me a part number. I ended up getting my rings directly from Grant, and was glad I did.

Good luck with your build

Just curious, what cam are you using?
_________________
69 road Bug 2110
73 Squareback - 2L, T4, Automatic W/ AC
Gone, but many fond memories 69 Baja Bug 2010 - 5 Rib Bus Transaxle
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My builds
T4 into Squareback http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458944&highlight=
Auto Trans Rebuild http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=516066&highlight=
AC in Squareback https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=

[Dan_Lockwood]

[modok]

I'd use .005 per inch top, since it's a high silicon piston
Second gap same or a few thou bigger

But it does depend on, what you do with it. I don't baby a fresh engine, but others do. Many right ways to do it, and many wrong ways too

[Glenn]

I was told, by CB, that .014" top and .016" second.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

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