I have rebuilt a de and a gtir motor before with this same ring compressor. I think I know what my mistake is though I think the largest rin goes in the center canal not on top
Got new rings, figured id do things right. .. buuuuuuut the two pistons I inserted and then turned the crank to put the othwr two in they broke the fucking oil squirters im pretty sad right now so I might just remove all the squirters and leave it like that. Because the sr20de-t has no squirters and runs fine
Do not run without the squirters, your oil pressure will be f'd. Gotta take your time with this stuff bud. Sit down and read an engine builders book in Barnes and Noble or something. If your top ring won't slide in the cylinder then the ring end gaps are touching, which is a BIG no no or you're just totally off with something. It shouldn't feel any different than the second ring or the oil rings on the way in.