4 or 3 ring pistons
 

I know this has probably been beat to death, but as a newby i need an opinion or 2 on which is best. My 8ba has 4 rings now & the pistons are marked s t d.
What did Ford use in 53? Thanks guys !!!!!! mike

Re: 4 or 3 ring pistons
 

Ford used 4 ring pistons to the end. Given the present ring technology (a 3 piece oil ring), there is no need for the fourth (bottom) ring. Either get 3 ring pistons or just leave the fourth ring out when you put it back together. That's what I did with my last build and it runs great.

Re: 4 or 3 ring pistons
 

The forth ring does little more than increase the piston drag.

Re: 4 or 3 ring pistons
 

There are 3-ring pistons available but the sizes are large on the cast ones. I would want a modern type oil control ring set for 3-ring design myself. The 4-ring design utilizes an old tech oil control ring that wasn't the best but they worked OK with two of them on there.

Re: 4 or 3 ring pistons
 

I have seen in Motors Manuals (or Chiltons ?) that Ford and Mercury used three ring pistons in 1953.

Re: 4 or 3 ring pistons
 

That surprises me. That "Frugal Ford" would completely change their piston setup for what they had to know was the last year of production seems amazing. I guess stranger things have happened.

Re: 4 or 3 ring pistons
 

The accuracy of those manuals, considering what all they cover, would be in question. They may have tried them back in the 30s on the steel pistons but I know of no 3-ring pistons from Ford in the 8BA era. There were plenty of aftermarket pistons back in the day so there were some available but not from FoMoCo. My early edition Motors Manual that covers 1935 thru 1953 shows 4-ring in the cut away. The 215 OHV 6-cylinder had 3-ring though.