Intercooler
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- May 24, 2001
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I picked up an issue of "Best of Tech" that is tied to Car Craft to read on my long flight out to S.F. In the article they did three dyno tests on a Westech dyno... One with pregapped rings, one with file-fit standard rings and one with Total-Seal top ring gapless (what I have) 
Cutting to the chase the Total-Seal top gapless ring setup made the most torque, horsepower, cranking compression, leakdown and peak volumetric efficiency! 
This isn't a forced induction motor but a Vortec 350 Chevy. In the tests they pointed out that the valve seats needing some attention after more than 100 dyno pulls on this engine and was the reason for more leakdown rate across the board than was expected or gotten in previous tests. Here is a rundown of the specifics and results:
Test #1
Standard pregapped rings. In the article they state gaps in excess of .030". Pregapped rings like this out of the box are set wide like this for safety in the case of unexperienced builders. CYA!
Results:
Peak HP: 434.7 @ 5,700 RPM's
Peak Torque: 450 Lb Ft @ 4,400 RPM's
Average HP (3,000-6,000 RPM): 363.3 HP
Average Torque (3,000-6,000 RPM): 425.6 Lb Ft
Cranking Compression: 160 PSI
Average Leakdown: Not recorded (due to the wide ring gaps)
Peak Volumetric Efficiency: Not recorded (due to the wide ring
gaps)
Test #2
Standard rings file-fitted to manufacturers spec of .0035" per inch of bore. Top ring being .018" and second ring being .014" since temperatures are lower on the second ring.
Results:
Peak HP: 441 @ 5,700 RPM's
Peak Torque: 459.2 Lb Ft @ 4,500 RPM's
Average HP (3,000-6,000 RPM): 370 HP
Average Torque (3,000-6,000 RPM): 433.9 Lb Ft
Cranking Compression: 165 PSI
Average Leakdown: 12%
Peak Volumetric Efficiency: 94.8%
Tighter ring package gained 6 HP, 9 Lb Ft of torque and 5 PSI increase in cranking compression.
Test #3
Total-Seal gapless top ring setup. File-fit gapped to Total-Seal specs.
Results:
Peak HP: 451 @ 5,600 RPM's
Peak Torque: 465 Lb Ft @ 4,500 RPM's
Average HP (3,000-6,000 RPM): 375 HP
Average Torque (3,000-6,000 RPM): 440 Lb Ft
Cranking Compression: 185 PSI
Average Leakdown: 7%
Peak Volumetric Efficiency: 96.4%
Gapless ring package gained 16 HP, 15 Lb Ft of torque and 25 PSI increase in cranking compression. It was also mentioned that the 7% average for leakdown isn't typical. In other dyno tests they commonly record 1% with Total-Seal gapless rings.
That's a pretty nice gain
And no oil out the breathers!
Cutting to the chase the Total-Seal top gapless ring setup made the most torque, horsepower, cranking compression, leakdown and peak volumetric efficiency! This isn't a forced induction motor but a Vortec 350 Chevy. In the tests they pointed out that the valve seats needing some attention after more than 100 dyno pulls on this engine and was the reason for more leakdown rate across the board than was expected or gotten in previous tests. Here is a rundown of the specifics and results:Test #1
Standard pregapped rings. In the article they state gaps in excess of .030". Pregapped rings like this out of the box are set wide like this for safety in the case of unexperienced builders. CYA!
Results:
Peak HP: 434.7 @ 5,700 RPM's
Peak Torque: 450 Lb Ft @ 4,400 RPM's
Average HP (3,000-6,000 RPM): 363.3 HP
Average Torque (3,000-6,000 RPM): 425.6 Lb Ft
Cranking Compression: 160 PSI
Average Leakdown: Not recorded (due to the wide ring gaps)
Peak Volumetric Efficiency: Not recorded (due to the wide ring
gaps)
Test #2
Standard rings file-fitted to manufacturers spec of .0035" per inch of bore. Top ring being .018" and second ring being .014" since temperatures are lower on the second ring.
Results:
Peak HP: 441 @ 5,700 RPM's
Peak Torque: 459.2 Lb Ft @ 4,500 RPM's
Average HP (3,000-6,000 RPM): 370 HP
Average Torque (3,000-6,000 RPM): 433.9 Lb Ft
Cranking Compression: 165 PSI
Average Leakdown: 12%
Peak Volumetric Efficiency: 94.8%
Tighter ring package gained 6 HP, 9 Lb Ft of torque and 5 PSI increase in cranking compression.
Test #3
Total-Seal gapless top ring setup. File-fit gapped to Total-Seal specs.
Results:
Peak HP: 451 @ 5,600 RPM's
Peak Torque: 465 Lb Ft @ 4,500 RPM's
Average HP (3,000-6,000 RPM): 375 HP
Average Torque (3,000-6,000 RPM): 440 Lb Ft
Cranking Compression: 185 PSI
Average Leakdown: 7%
Peak Volumetric Efficiency: 96.4%
Gapless ring package gained 16 HP, 15 Lb Ft of torque and 25 PSI increase in cranking compression. It was also mentioned that the 7% average for leakdown isn't typical. In other dyno tests they commonly record 1% with Total-Seal gapless rings.
That's a pretty nice gain
And no oil out the breathers!
