rebuild questions

[jimfoo]

I'm going to be putting Total seal rings in my 1.9 TD. It has fairly low mileage, 30-40k, but it is apart for a new head. Anyway, the TS rings
have a cast top ring. Are the stock chrome or something other than cast?
I was contemplating using the stock top ring with theTS 2nd ring. Thoughts
on this anyone?
 Also, why do new heat shields need to be installed when injectors are
removed? The're steel, so it's not like they crush any. I am replacing them,
just wondering why?

[jtanguay]

when the heat shields are installed, they get crushed a bit, and will never go in the same way again.  just replace them as they are real cheap (someone on here actually knew how to bend them back into shape using a vice... thats all i remember...).  i have read that if you re-install the old heat shields, the next time you go to remove the injectors, you will have a real hard time getting the heat shields to come out...

if you're going to be running lots of boost, its also recommended that you install the total seal ring on the top compression ring.  2nd compression ring is mainly to control oil blow-by.

stock rings are made from chrome alloy i believe.  i dont think totalseal can match them.  you should just send in a set of 4 rings to them, and they can get it done for you.