*!!@*!!! Chrome rings

Chromes rings are the standard nowdays. Most all ring sets have chrome rings on the top groove. Chrome stands up to combustion gases better than steel rings.

It may be that who ever installed the rings bent the rings when installing them and if that is the case it will never seat. If the rings are expanded too far when installing they will touch the cylinder at three points and not all the way around their circumference. .012 should be a good re ring job fit and there should be no noticable oil consumption with that close a fit of the ring ends. If the cylinders are worn egg shaped from being run for a long time with worn out rings the rings can not seat. You should use an inside micrometer to measure the bore all the way around to see if they are in fact round. Just a couple of thousandths out of round and you will have blow by. You can sometimes tell if the cylinder is out of round by installing a new top piston ring into the cylinder without the piston and then shining a light under the cylinder to see if you can see light under the ring at any point. If you can see light between the ring and the cylinder wall the cylinder is out of round.

Zane

IMHO

Mountainman...CA

REM

The problem with the 1955 Chevrolets was that the factory (in their zeal to produce) failed to hone the cylinders properly - thus the "behind the shop" addition of abrasive into the carburetor.

The replacement of rings using old pistons and old sleeves is, in my opinion poor judgement.

Regards.