Really dumb question - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• Really dumb question by RustyCaddy on 06 Mar, 2009 22:23
• My gigantic ego has held me back from asking this stupid question but here goes.
  
  Am putting a 1.6 NA back together with fresh bore, pistons and Mahle rings.
  
  Having never done this much to any engine and being clueless I see the rings are marked with a "c" on one side...I think this means top as in towards this side towards the crown and not the crankshaft???
  
  any help is appreciated...
• #1 by maxfax on 06 Mar, 2009 22:44
• If you got any literature with the pistons check that..   If that says nothing then yes C goes towards teh crown...  
  
  It's not a dumb question unless you ask it after you screw up..    Using that logic, yes I have asked dumb questions..
• #2 by Rabbit TD on 06 Mar, 2009 23:16
• I don't think I've ever seen a ring on anything that had a mark on one side only that didn't face the top of the piston.  But some have no marks that are different but have a diagram to show which way to put them.
• #3 by maxfax on 07 Mar, 2009 00:01
• I was putting rings in a 1927 Pontiac once..   There was a "A" on one side, and a "B" on the other...  Apparently they fit several dozen applications just by flipping them over..   Woulda been nice if they had send some instruction with them...
• #4 by RustyCaddy on 07 Mar, 2009 10:32
• Thanks guys!
  
  I looked up the portugese word for "top" (they are Brazilian rings) and it listed a coupel of words that started with "c".
  
  Maybe that was what is was about.
  
  "a" on one side "b" on the other; that can't be funny when it is happening
  
  
• #5 by Vincent Waldon on 07 Mar, 2009 10:53
• No dumb questions here (slightly tiring ones sometimes if they're already in the FAQ, but that's a different story :wink:).
  
  A couple of other cross-triangulation points:
  
  - do either of the top two rings have bevels ?  If so, you might be able to match them with standard Goetz ring instructions... I've got a kit somewhere I can scan if that helps
  
  - in general, if there's labeling on only one side of a mechanical part it's installed "label side up"
• #6 by maxfax on 07 Mar, 2009 11:18
• Quote from: "RustyCaddy"

  Thanks guys!
  
  I looked up the portugese word for "top" (they are Brazilian rings) and it listed a coupel of words that started with "c".

  
  
  Now that's  thinkin right there..  Would make alot of sense
  
  

  Quote from: "RustyCaddy"

  "a" on one side "b" on the other; that can't be funny when it is happening
  

  
  
  No it isn;t...   Especially when it's someone else's money you could be screwing up...