engine rebuilders: lightweight forged pistons?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,673
Likes: 750
From: NEwhere Ohio
engine rebuilders: lightweight forged pistons?
I'm starting to think of rebuilding my 93 lt1...
It will be a reduced compression (9.5:1) for boost.
I envision a high cc head (like afr) so I can use as small as possible dish on the piston.
That said, does anyone make a lightweight dished piston?
What got me thinking about this is I read somewhere that lsx motors have stock cast piston weight around 430 grams. Whereas sbc and lt1 stock cast piston weights are around 525 grams. Much heavier.
Are there lighter weight forged pistons out there?
It will be a reduced compression (9.5:1) for boost.
I envision a high cc head (like afr) so I can use as small as possible dish on the piston.
That said, does anyone make a lightweight dished piston?
What got me thinking about this is I read somewhere that lsx motors have stock cast piston weight around 430 grams. Whereas sbc and lt1 stock cast piston weights are around 525 grams. Much heavier.
Are there lighter weight forged pistons out there?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
mahle has a habit of creating pretty light street pistons. the things is, unless this is a track only car, you don't want an ultralight...as in lighter than an off the shelf mahle. the skirt is one place metal is taken and that means more flopping around in the cylinder especially when cold. if you plan on boosting this car and have a stock gm block you're going to be more hp limited in the block than you will be anything else....well....unless you use pump gas which i do not suggest, not with e85 so easy to find these days
the single most important thing in this whole build will be the tune. with turbo cars it's the #1 cause of engine failure.
the mahle pistons are also coated which reduces heat into the aluminum. heat = expansion = lager piston to wall clearance. they also happen to be 4032 alloy which expands less than 2618
probe is another very reliable piston that has been use in a TON of builds {also 4032 alloy}
you also want to use ductile iron or steel rings. no cast iron crap with added pressure. in fact, don't be cheap, buy tool steel, the last thing you want is fractured rings
the single most important thing in this whole build will be the tune. with turbo cars it's the #1 cause of engine failure.
the mahle pistons are also coated which reduces heat into the aluminum. heat = expansion = lager piston to wall clearance. they also happen to be 4032 alloy which expands less than 2618
probe is another very reliable piston that has been use in a TON of builds {also 4032 alloy}
you also want to use ductile iron or steel rings. no cast iron crap with added pressure. in fact, don't be cheap, buy tool steel, the last thing you want is fractured rings
Last edited by racebum; Jan 14, 2012 at 11:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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Look at these....
http://www.jepistons.com/Catalogs/SR...0_inv-pro.aspx
Their specs really impress me. 4032 alloy is what I chose for my street build too. Less expansion.
If they would have had the relief size I needed, these are what I would have used. (long story...not worth posting here.)
http://www.jepistons.com/Catalogs/SR...0_inv-pro.aspx
Their specs really impress me. 4032 alloy is what I chose for my street build too. Less expansion.
If they would have had the relief size I needed, these are what I would have used. (long story...not worth posting here.)
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
as for where the stock gm block fails? it's subject to debate. i have personally witnessed 700whp of precision turbo forced air in a 350 before all on a stock block with made in china eagle rods. i have no idea how long that would live but it had no problems the whole day i was watching the drags.
i think one reason gen 1 builds go dart north of 500hp is just how expensive parts start getting. no one wants to waste a $1500 crank, 600 dollar pistons and a nice set of rods with a cheap block coming apart.
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St. Jude Donor '05
in a boosted app you need a thicker crown sure there is a compromise with weight/strength. Sometimes with added strength comes weight just the name of the game. Wouldnt lose any sleep over it.
