now i haven't rebuilt an engine in twenty years. so i had the block bored .40 over got a master kit from RPM machine the main bearings pasti gauge @ .002 rods @ .001 i took one ring from each pack and push it in the cylinder a inch or so the rings said at least .004 and i don't have a .004 so i used a .006 and had a little play in both rings so i installed them should i have checked every single one??? do they come big and small of all the ones you check how many do you have to file? or should i take it back apart and check them all??
If you have only .004 to .006 thousandths ring gap they will butt. You should always check every ring for the proper gap, dont assume they are right. Its common to have to file some if not most of them.
The top ring needs to be at least .016-.018, the second can be a little tighter, but I would still stay at around .016 for it. The oil ring support rails need to be checked also to make sure they aren't too tight either.