[frnkeore]

I've been investigating narrow ring packs for about 6 months.

I noted in the article that they didn't test low tension 3/16 oil rings or that they didn't compare what the ring life might be of the .7mm rings.

In looking into this, I found that the oil ring tension is where the 3/16 ring causes the most loss of HP & TQ.

I was looking a ring packs of 1mm x 1mm x 2mm vs 1/16 x 1/16 x 3/16 and found that there is a 20/22 HP gain, between them and 1/2 of the friction lose of the 1/16 ring pack, was do to the std tension, oil ring. Just by making the oil ring, low tension, you pick up 10 HP.

The cost of the 1mm x 2mm ring pack is twice the cost of the low tension 1/16 x 3/16 or $125 vs $250 so, I've gone with 3/16, LT oil rings for my stuff.

But, for a "all out" flathead build, 10 HP is hard to come by and would be worth it for that type of engine.

The heat thing, might also be beneficial but, would be based on bore area and a 3,312 bore has 17% less area than a 4" bore. I don't remember it giving the bore but, I would guess it was at least a 4" bore engine and the same might apply to the HP lost.