Moly rings?

Is there a way to tell moly rings from plain ones? I picked up a set of pistons and rings today, as well as another set of rings from another engine. I asked for moly rings, but the 1st ring looks different to the 1st ring that came with the piston set. Are moly rings dull or bright?

Sealed Power and most other manufacturers offer what are sometimes referred to as “Chrome-Moly” ring sets. What this means (usually) is that the rings are molybdenum-faced and the top ring (compression ring) is chrome plated. Chrome, is much harder than molybdenum, and smoother, so a chrome-plated ring does not hold oil on its surface. Chrome is however; a more ideal material choice for top rings, which get more heat, higher pressure and the least amount of lubrication.

Rings made from molybdenum (moly), constitute an extremely hard yet somewhat porous low-friction metal and they have better oil-carrying capacity (than chrome) to provide lubrication.

So what you probably have is a set of “chrome-moly” rings and yes, moly is dull when contrasted to the top chrome-plated ring.

Hope this helps.
Glenn

1 top ring. molybdenum filled iron top ring or a plasma moly ductile iron ring some that come pre lapped .or just plane iron ring thats phosphate coated will be black in color .some rings are chrome 1# ring a 2# that are pre lapped like grant rings .most all moly ring sets use a 2# ring that a torsional twist phosphated coated gray iron or ductile iron not chrome .the oil ring 3 pc can have the chrome oil rails pre lapped or stainless steel .so were did the chrome moly ring set come from? should be more like moly chrome that would state a top moly ring . 2#iron and 3# oil pc chrome pre lapped ring but not many say it that way . most all builds would never need the use of chrome rings most all engines i build use a moly face top ring been building them this way for 30 years i see not much need for a chrome top ring.chrome they say has come a long way from the good old day were guys would do things to try to get them to seat . if your other rings are a hasting moly top ring or others you will see the moly filler gray in color with dark gray out lines on the ring face. the ring on a plasma spray moly top ring it will look even and some over all gray on the face will look some what sliver no ring part numbers ?

They are were both from ACL. The packets the rings are in are virtually identical too. The set that came with the pistons were actually 2nd hand. A guy had them and never used them. So I got a good deal. The "new" set were bought from ACL by the brother of a friend for me, as he gets trade prices through his work. I had to pay a premium to get the damn things freighted here from Aussie sooner, rather than having to wait ages.
I just had another look, and on the set which I had specified moly top rings for, the 1st and 2nd rings appear identical in colour. The engine they're destined for is supercharged, and I'm going to be giving it a very hard time. Another bloke I know who runs the same engine, swears and declares that moly rings are a must for forced induction in these motors.
I have another set of Hastings rings with moly top ring over at the workshop. I may have to compare the 1st ring from that set to the ones I just aquired.
I need this motor to in the car and running in 5 weeks. And It's being built on a budget. that said, I also really need it done right. The cars been out of action since feb when I blew the last engine. And I can't afford another catostrophic failure in the foreseeable future.

call acl or e mail them. i never used there rings they may make them some rings are re boxs .i have used there bearings on some builds . can you get a photo on here? if dark gray or black and the face of the top ring with no color dif then they may just be plain iron

I don't have the computer skills to post pictures. But, I compared the 1st and 2nd rings on the hastings set. The Hastings 1st ring is shiney like the 1st ring from the set that came with the pistons. I also rang a mate who builds race motors. He said that it sounded to him (Based on my description) that I'd been sold Iron rings. So rather than jerk my friend around, I'm just going to buy individual moly top rings. ACL have also gone into liquadtion, so that may be why they supplied the wrong bits.

you can buy a top ring from any one hasting .PC .ect of any ring maker just make sure its the rigth size it very well could be cheaper to buy a full set

I'm under a severe time constraint to have my car back together. The drag season begins in 5 weeks!