hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons
 

assuming no preignition, no2 or super/turbo charger what would be the limit horsepower/torq wise for stock cast pistons.

my gut syas it would be more rpm related than actual output related. i am i right or _______ against the wind?

Re: hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons (johndezman)
 

Chevy High Performance has a good article in this months issue... I think they got up to 600hp with nitrous before it blew up and that was because of a stupid mistake( purging nitrous into engine at idle.)

The engine made 310hp after they replaced the cam and put new head gaskets in it. they used 325 jets to get 600hp and were starting to use the 425 jets when they screwed the engine up.

Not to say that a stock piston is good up to 600hp.... but it can live for a bit.

Re: hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons (johndezman)
 

guess that kind of confirms my gut. i figured if you keep the rpm in line - so you don't jerk the pin boss out of it - the material thickness in the crown should be OK for a great deal. the first failure point i would expect after pin boss - if rpm are reasonable, would be the ring lands...

Re: hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons (johndezman)
 

I think 6500 RPM is the max but some go higher :eek:

Re: hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons (johndezman)
 

back when i was young and stupid, i had a 58 chevy 348 tri power with a solid cam. when i snugged up the lash i routinely took it to 7000. for a couple of years on the street in the 60's.

i don't know the material specs on that rotating assembly (cast or forged) but it dealt with it for as long as i owned it.

Re: hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons (johndezman)
 

For the $$$ why not just go with hypereutectic pistons ? These are a decent middle of the road piston without the forged price. It will also give you some piece of mind without having to worry later :) .

If you don't get CHP, their stock sbc/ nitrous test was pretty impressive ;) .

Re: hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons (johndezman)
 

The life/reliability of cast pistons is really based on pressure and rpm more than horsepower. Hold the rpms below 6000, don't use nitrous or a blower and cast pistons will work fine. If you want a blower, nitrous, or to rev above 6000 rpm regularly, you need to go "hyper" or forged.

Re: hp limit of stock chevy cast pistons (Russ Bellinis)
 

My compromise is the Eagle 5140 "I" beam for $190 5.7 rod (not 6.0 cause I really want the 5/64 top ring) and the Kieth Black Signature series Hyper's for my 406 engine with miniram. I want to top out at 6000 RPM. Maybe an ocassional missed shift MIGHT spin we to 6500RPM.