question about changing piston rings.

[subleg69]

alright so i have a BE next week im changingthe head gasket and all the gaskets in the head replaced, along with the timming belt. now i was also thinking about buying new rings and have them replaced as well. seemed cheap to buy and a good idea while the motor was apart. now here is my stupid question, how much more work is required to change the rings while doing the head gasket. im just trying to figure out if its going to be a load more of work or if its quiet simple while the heads off?

[02_Legacy]

You would have to pull all the pistons out to do it. Here is a video showing how its done:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR0Ed6qTIVQ
so you would have to do that with all the pistons and then put the rings on and reinstall them.
Not a hard task, but possibly time consuming especially if you have never done it before.

[mike-tracy]

I've always been told you want to have the walls honed so the new rings seal/seat properly.

[subleg69]

ah alright sounds good. its my first time really opening up a motor myself, ive watched and helped out but never on my own car so this should be interesting

[Huffer]

If you're going to remove the pistons, considered doing some upgrades?

This could turn into a cool build...

[subleg69]

Yea I was thinking doing a high compression NA build but funds are keeping that to a minimum and my head gasket needs to be changed now. In time id love to do pistons and cams maybe get some head work done all that good stuff.

[ouch1011]

I've always been told you want to have the walls honed so the new rings seal/seat properly.

Its required. The rings won't seal properly if the cyl walls are not honed first.

Honestly, unless you have a lot of blow-by, leave the rings alone. If you do have a lot of blow by, then the engine needs rebuilt (i.e. more than just rings)