What piston to use?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Matt, you go ahead and take it that way if it makes you happy 
I'll keep using my mics and bore gauges the way every machine shop on this planet does
Last edited by billla; Aug 9, 2008 at 06:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
For the most part, you'll find that anything cast (including hypereutectics) is from outside of the US - I don't know of any that are still made in the US. As noted, there were some initial quality issues on even the brand-name stuff as tooling got moved and production spooled up...but I have not seen this in the last few boxes of pistons I've used. It's worth a chat with your shop to see if they can specify Sealed Power "black box" (USA) vs. "white box" (overseas).
I would expect that most of the forged stuff is made in the US - but I honestly can't say for certain.
I would expect that most of the forged stuff is made in the US - but I honestly can't say for certain.
Thanks for all the replys, I know a lot more about pistons now.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
As for "Made in the USA" keep in mind that in general this only means that around more than 50% of the retail cost of the item is completed in the US...it's kinda slippery.
As long as they measure up (with a mic
) I wouldn't worry about it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I wouldn't recommend KB pistons. Seen way to many failures with these. Check out Mahle or SRP. They offer a low expansion forged piston that requires same bore and clearances as cast with strength surpassing a hyper piston. The Mahle's are made in USA. They will cost you a little more $ but are a top quality product.
Agree with Mahle and SRP as two good ones - I'm an SRP guy myself but the Mahle Power Packs are also a really, REALLY good deal and they offer some dome/dish sizes that SRP doesn't for streetable engines.
