Piston Ring Preference?

I'm in the process of gathering parts to build my 302.

I plan on it running 350-400 HP.

There are cast iron, moly and chrome moly rings available. What's your suggestion to which ring type I should use. And Why that type?

i like using cast iron rings myself just because they seat faster and sometimes better, moly and chrome moly ring are harder to seat in the cylinders.... you pretty much have to run the engine without antifreeze, let it get hot, then turn it off and let cool all the way down. you have to do it a couple times to get them to seat properly. thats the only way i found to seat them...unless theres another way

Yeah, that's what I'm finding out. It appears Moly rings are for racing applications only... high RPM, hard usage.

I'd ask the piston manufacturer.
Sometimes mfr's like MAHLE pistons are sold or are avail loaded with rings.

total seal gapless rings... I think hot rod mag did a huge article on them.

I sort of like what Jet has to say here. For replacement pistons today are cut in the bores for certain clearances, and the rings have to match the shrink/expansion of the bore and those particular pistons.

Otherwise you are assuming then that the replacement rings match in with genuine pistons. That is sort of playing mix and match then.

Wm.

Also consider your choice for use with NA, forced induction, or NO2.