The Imp Site

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Cord rings

Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 16:32:22 -0800 (PST)
From: paul waites
Subject: [imps] cord rings

A question that came-up at our last area meeting (York). Has anyone any experience with cord rings (I think that is how they are spelt) in imp engines?... They are apparently about half the price of standard rings, opinion here seems to be that they should be o.k. in theory.

Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 17:36:40 +0000
From: Andrew W. MacFadyen
Subject: [imps] Re: cord rings

Ah a name from the golden era of motoring Cords's rings have been around for a very long time the main use is trying to get a bit extra life out of worn bores and pistons at which they are reputed to be quite good -- as far as I know they won't cause any problems but I wouldn't use them on a brand new block & pistons.

Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 21:57:36 +0000
From: Graham Begley
Subject: [imps] Re: cord rings

As Andy says Cord rings in the old days were used to take up bore wear and put off the evil day when the job had to be done properly. Their origins are in an era when the oil consumption on a 1172cc side-valve Ford Engine was higher than the fuel consumption, when the head from an 8 h.p. was slapped on a 10 h.p. Ford to increase the compression ratio, when sawdust was used to 'fix' a dodgy back-axle, and industrial oil of treacle consistency to quieten gear-boxes, big-end, etc
So what do Cord claim today?

Date: Thu, 4 Mar 1999 14:15:29 -0800 (PST)
From: paul waites
Subject: [imps] Re: cord rings

I'm not sure what they claim today, I think the question at our area centre was brought-up largely because of cost (we are from Yorkshire and don't spend naught unless we have to), and also the fluctuations in supplies of piston rings. (Usually 998's). I agree that guenuine rings should be used on new liners but they probably are o.k for the rebuild of an older engine.
They probably won't last that long, but knowing most of our lot they will be rebuilding them regularly anyway!!

From: Allan Duncan
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 09:47:15 +1100 (edt)
Subject: [imps] Re: cord rings

I used them in a new short 875 block when I noticed that the bores had not been honed smoothly - there was a vibration in the tool that left alternate high/low stripes around the bore. I ran cords for a while, then put the originals back in after deglazing the surface.

Just in the oil control slot.