"Sealed Power Pistons" - ?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
"Sealed Power Pistons" - ?
Dropped by the "mota shop" today to check on my 454. He line bored the cylinders .30 over - polished the crank - new crank bearings - new wrist pins - bearings - installed all new freeze plugs - cam bearings - and a set of new "Sealed Power" flat tops and rings.
Two questions:
1. I have never heard of "sealed power" pistons.....they any good ??
This cost me $826.00 from a 74 year old retired "dirt track motor builder" named Grady Bobo.
2. Did I do OK?
I guess time will tell!
Two questions:
1. I have never heard of "sealed power" pistons.....they any good ??
This cost me $826.00 from a 74 year old retired "dirt track motor builder" named Grady Bobo.
2. Did I do OK?
I guess time will tell!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
It's a good price if it was a quality job.
Sealed power is an old brand. they're OK, but their forged pistons are heavy. What did he use? Cast, hyper or forged?
Why flat-tops? Your compression will be very low. 8.5:1 or so. Also, ask him to check deck height if he hasn't already. Most BBC have uneven decks making compression uneven between cylinders.
Sealed power is an old brand. they're OK, but their forged pistons are heavy. What did he use? Cast, hyper or forged?
Why flat-tops? Your compression will be very low. 8.5:1 or so. Also, ask him to check deck height if he hasn't already. Most BBC have uneven decks making compression uneven between cylinders.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 1
From: North Bend Ohio
That is a very good quality piston. I believe Sealed Power was the name that the TRW Corp. came up with when they "sorta" spun off their piston works. TRW was known for very inovative designs back in the '60's and '70's. They made a BUNCH of stuff for the General and other auto manufacturers back then.
If those pistons are forged, that is about $450 of that shop work you had done. I think that's fare.
zwede it sounds like he is trying to duplicate an early '70 Big Block. Perfect for turbocharging!
BigBlockk
Later.....
If those pistons are forged, that is about $450 of that shop work you had done. I think that's fare.
zwede it sounds like he is trying to duplicate an early '70 Big Block. Perfect for turbocharging!
BigBlockk
Later.....
Last edited by BigBlockk; Apr 4, 2007 at 08:24 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
[QUOTE=zwede;1559676811]
Sealed power is an old brand. they're OK, but their forged pistons are heavy.
What did he use? Cast, hyper or forged?
Not sure....will check when I pick it up. ....
Why flat-tops? Your compression will be very low. 8.5:1 or so.
It's "the wife's car" ......
Thanks guys...I have not paid for a job like this before.....thought it was fair pricing....wasn't sure though.
Sealed power is an old brand. they're OK, but their forged pistons are heavy.
What did he use? Cast, hyper or forged?
Not sure....will check when I pick it up.
.... Why flat-tops? Your compression will be very low. 8.5:1 or so.
It's "the wife's car" ......
Thanks guys...I have not paid for a job like this before.....thought it was fair pricing....wasn't sure though.
Last edited by fotyfobravo; Apr 4, 2007 at 08:29 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 453
Likes: 1
From: Austin TX
I have a set of sealed power hypers in my 355. It's got a litter over 60k on it right now and the engine is still running strong. Actually, I think the valve seals on the sportsman IIs are leaking causing a little oil burn, but the pistons are fine. This was the first engine I built and I have beaten on it for the first 60,000. Hard accelerations and pulling boats and it's still going good. Nothing wrong with those pistons in my short experience.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
I thought TRW became Speed pro and Sealed Power was Federal Mogul. I know people who say Hypereutectic pistons are garbage and never to use them. I have had no problems with the engines I have put them in.
Here is my theory-
1- If you use HU pistons, get Speed Pro Or Sealed Power since you can use standard ring gaps. If you use Keith Black and you do not file your rings to size, bad things will happen, resulting in a huge acky poo-poo.
2- Since HU pistons are advertized "being stronger", people abuse them, expecting to build 450 HP, huge cam, carb and manifold and running at 7grand in a two bolt main sbc. I just took one of these apart, with three broken pistons and two bent rods. The motor had less than 500 miles on it! The guy said I could keep the Scat crank and Comp cam for taking the scrap off his hands.
3- People try to use them with nitrous oxide, resulting in yet another acky poo-poo.
Hyperutectic pistons are stronger than cast, but for high rev and harsh running, go with forged. I try to build all my high performance engines with forged pistons. I use HU when it is a mild mill under 400 Hp and under 6500 RPM...and if that is all I can afford at the time!
Here is my theory-
1- If you use HU pistons, get Speed Pro Or Sealed Power since you can use standard ring gaps. If you use Keith Black and you do not file your rings to size, bad things will happen, resulting in a huge acky poo-poo.
2- Since HU pistons are advertized "being stronger", people abuse them, expecting to build 450 HP, huge cam, carb and manifold and running at 7grand in a two bolt main sbc. I just took one of these apart, with three broken pistons and two bent rods. The motor had less than 500 miles on it! The guy said I could keep the Scat crank and Comp cam for taking the scrap off his hands.
3- People try to use them with nitrous oxide, resulting in yet another acky poo-poo.
Hyperutectic pistons are stronger than cast, but for high rev and harsh running, go with forged. I try to build all my high performance engines with forged pistons. I use HU when it is a mild mill under 400 Hp and under 6500 RPM...and if that is all I can afford at the time!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 1
From: North Bend Ohio
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 2
From: California USA
Dropped by the "mota shop" today to check on my 454. He line bored the cylinders .30 over - polished the crank - new crank bearings - new wrist pins - bearings - installed all new freeze plugs - cam bearings - and a set of new "Sealed Power" flat tops and rings.
Two questions:
1. I have never heard of "sealed power" pistons.....they any good ??
This cost me $826.00 from a 74 year old retired "dirt track motor builder" named Grady Bobo.
2. Did I do OK?
I guess time will tell!
Two questions:
1. I have never heard of "sealed power" pistons.....they any good ??
This cost me $826.00 from a 74 year old retired "dirt track motor builder" named Grady Bobo.
2. Did I do OK?
I guess time will tell!
Sealed Power makes good stuff. I once used those rings (1996) on a forged piston and beat the living daylights of the motor with nitrous to the tune of probably 5 years. The car finally spun a bearing. I took it apart to find the piston/rings and cylinder pressure were still very high.
They are good rings.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Yeah, and the company sucks. Their stock is so far in the tank I dont think they will ever get out. Somewheres around .35 a share.
PS, For that kind of money they better be forged!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
Maybe it will turn around.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
TRW is now a Financial company. They no longer need to bother with difficult things like manufacturing and assembly of products. TRW sold the engine parts division to Federal Mogual about 8-10 years ago. Most of the Speed Pro line is somewhat dated in design but OK quality. Piston rings are still some of the best quality. Stock is in really bad shape but TRW stock will follow FM's lead with the comming BLOW-UP in the financial markets.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: IL
Actually it was over $70 after the Fel-Pro take buy out!! Then the asbestos issue and down it went. Meanwhile the other companies involved were smart enough to file and get out. Not FM..."we'll stay the course and legislation will be passed to..." bla, bla bla. Well still in Chapter 13 for the sixth+ year, employee head count is way down and work keeps pilling up. Oh well enough of that rant.
Speed Pro is a good quality piston, no they're not light weight race pistons but still a good buy. H.U. are a great buy, mid priced, an upgrade to cast with tighter tolerences compared to forged. Issues such as piston speed, application (NOS, blower), and overall power requirements are just some criteria to design a build with either type. Overall those pistons will be fine.
Hope that helps,
Later.
Speed Pro is a good quality piston, no they're not light weight race pistons but still a good buy. H.U. are a great buy, mid priced, an upgrade to cast with tighter tolerences compared to forged. Issues such as piston speed, application (NOS, blower), and overall power requirements are just some criteria to design a build with either type. Overall those pistons will be fine.
Hope that helps,
Later.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
TRW is now a Financial company. They no longer need to bother with difficult things like manufacturing and assembly of products. TRW sold the engine parts division to Federal Mogual about 8-10 years ago. Most of the Speed Pro line is somewhat dated in design but OK quality. Piston rings are still some of the best quality. Stock is in really bad shape but TRW stock will follow FM's lead with the comming BLOW-UP in the financial markets.
