LT1 Piston Failure
Racer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 486
Likes: 74
hi Ant, do you have the stock rods still? Pistons are my next step since I’m already pushing it a little past the comfort zone on the stockers. I need to find a shop near me in Jersey to do the install.
I'm Batman..
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,142
Likes: 921
From: Lehigh Acres FL
Tech Contributor
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 89
From: Belmont Ontario
VR Pistons with stock rods and stock crank in my LT1... If i was doing it all over again, i would chang rods too... Nothing wrong with just pistons, but if i ever decide to push it even harder it would be there...
Not sure if anyone makes drop in rods and pistons...
Not sure if anyone makes drop in rods and pistons...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,674
Likes: 57
From: Mt Pleasant, TN
I may be wrong but I thought i saw that Cunningham Motorsports is making a drop in piston and rod combo with a price tag around $2000-2500. I’m not sure where I remember seeing it though.
I'm Batman..
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,142
Likes: 921
From: Lehigh Acres FL
Tech Contributor
Zero. I did it all myself. 
Cunningham makes a drop in kit with pistons and rods but the only option for compression is to drop from 11.5:1 to 10.5:1.
Ant
Ant
Last edited by FYREANT; Mar 8, 2018 at 11:11 AM.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 89
From: Belmont Ontario
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 173
Likes: 13
From: London Canada
Get ready to pull the front carraige and put your engine in an engine holder! Cant no way do a piston upgrade without taking engine out! Hey if you know a way pist it asap! After you get copyright it...lol
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 392
From: Long Island New York
I have a stage 2 Edelbrock E Force, 9 pounds of boost. Made 520hp on a Mustang dyno(close to 600 on Dynojet). It was rich at wot put, afr in the 10s. on Edelbrocks tune. I was thinking of getting a custom tune for more power and to lean it out to mid 12s at wot. Now I'm thinking of just leaving the Edelbrock tune after reading this thread. Thinking Edelbrocks rich tune would keep the pistons cooler and help avoid this broken piston issue?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 89
From: Belmont Ontario
I have a stage 2 Edelbrock E Force, 9 pounds of boost. Made 520hp on a Mustang dyno(close to 600 on Dynojet). It was rich at wot put, afr in the 10s. on Edelbrocks tune. I was thinking of getting a custom tune for more power and to lean it out to mid 12s at wot. Now I'm thinking of just leaving the Edelbrock tune after reading this thread. Thinking Edelbrocks rich tune would keep the pistons cooler and help avoid this broken piston issue?
AFR in 10s... eeekkkk... that is way way to rich for DI.. BUT
Keep the timing out of it and leave it rich and it should last...
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 267
From: Houston Texas
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 81
Likes: 9
On relatively low HP FI builds (550RWHP-625RWHP), when the pistons go, are they damaging any other part of the engine, or is it typically just the ringlands? Also, when the engine is rebuilt, is there any additional work which needs to be done besides the piston replacement, such as boring it over .005", boroscope inspection, full inspection, etc..
Just trying to get a better sense of what typically happens following this seemingly common failure mode.
Just trying to get a better sense of what typically happens following this seemingly common failure mode.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 392
From: Long Island New York
I wouldn't say this is a "common failure" the vast majority of stock piston LT1s are doing just fine. They are just limited to a certain HP, once you push past it you're going to have issues.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 89
From: Belmont Ontario
This thread makes it sound like supercharger will implode your engine on first start.
Keep it under 10psi, run it little richer, keep timing under 12-14, and have alcohol injection and you will be fine for long long time...
I messed up my ring land by running race gas, 15psi, **** load of timing and i was just asking for...
Keep it under 10psi, run it little richer, keep timing under 12-14, and have alcohol injection and you will be fine for long long time...
I messed up my ring land by running race gas, 15psi, **** load of timing and i was just asking for...
Last edited by Osman; Mar 23, 2018 at 09:10 AM.
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 267
From: Houston Texas
When the lands break we haven't seen them do any other damage. You Just get a lot of blow by and loss of power. We deglaze the cylinders, no boring.
On relatively low HP FI builds (550RWHP-625RWHP), when the pistons go, are they damaging any other part of the engine, or is it typically just the ringlands? Also, when the engine is rebuilt, is there any additional work which needs to be done besides the piston replacement, such as boring it over .005", boroscope inspection, full inspection, etc..
Just trying to get a better sense of what typically happens following this seemingly common failure mode.
Just trying to get a better sense of what typically happens following this seemingly common failure mode.