upside down compression ring

[rwc]

would an upside down compression ring cause my rebuilt 345 to smoke?

[timscout1]

would an upside down compression ring cause my rebuilt 345 to smoke?

No it would not cause that, only lower the compression a bit until after it wears in. Only a improperly installed oil ring would do that. I have seen engines where someone installed all 3 pieces with the gaps carefully lined up. A really dumb mistake and one I hope you did not do the ring gaps are to be staggered as per the directions. Usually the center spacer is lined up with the wrist pin and the top and lower ring 45 or 90 degrees left and right of the wrist pin.

[rwc]

No I am quite confident that I staggered the gaps and pretty sure that I got the rings in correct...I switched the pcv hose from the rear of the motor vac to the port on the front of the carb and the smoking stopped. I have the heater core out and am not sure how to run the hoses now. It's running hot and the bottom radiator hose doesn't get warm...not flowing. I took the thermostadt out but put it back in...it could be faulty. There are 2 small water ports on the water pump I assume one is send and one return. Should I just hook them together till I get a heater core? What about the ports on the rear of the engine? One day I'll get it right.