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Piston choices

Old Aug 2, 2004 | 05:32 PM
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Default Piston choices

I've been looking at pistons for a street/strip motor.
I'm targeting a motor at about 380HP, trying for 300RWHP.

I'm only looking at the hypereutectic pistons - flat tops.

I've found that Keith Black sells two for a 350/355 - KB120 and
KB231. The '231s are supposedly lightweight - 485 g vs 535g.
The silvolite claimers are also about the same price as the KB's.

Also, Speedpro sells '345 - a cheap rebuild type, and the '631 a
coated skirt hyper.

Of these I want a set with only 2 valve reliefs - that rules out the 345's.

Any other things to consider between the Speedpro's and the KBs?
Is the lighter weight KB's worth the $60 difference?

Anything else to consider about pistons?

Thanks.
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Old Aug 2, 2004 | 11:22 PM
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KB's usually require file fit rings I went with the uncoated SpeedPro they have benn making pistons for long time.
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Old Aug 3, 2004 | 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by adam
I've been looking at pistons for a street/strip motor.
I'm targeting a motor at about 380HP, trying for 300RWHP.

I'm only looking at the hypereutectic pistons - flat tops.

I've found that Keith Black sells two for a 350/355 - KB120 and
KB231. The '231s are supposedly lightweight - 485 g vs 535g.
The silvolite claimers are also about the same price as the KB's.

Also, Speedpro sells '345 - a cheap rebuild type, and the '631 a
coated skirt hyper.

Of these I want a set with only 2 valve reliefs - that rules out the 345's.

Any other things to consider between the Speedpro's and the KBs?
Is the lighter weight KB's worth the $60 difference?

Anything else to consider about pistons?

Thanks.
Have never heard anything good about KB pistons...I know a guy that dropped one on the floor and it busted apart like a china cup. I would get the best that you can afford.
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Old Aug 3, 2004 | 06:01 PM
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well that sucks since i just finished stuffing a set in my block. guess I'll find out.
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Old Aug 3, 2004 | 06:18 PM
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i'd go with the lighter one if mine
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Old Aug 6, 2004 | 05:16 PM
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Guess most here use forged pistons...

> get the lightest...

Well, comparing the lightweight KB to the coated speed-pro piston,
the KB (231) would be 1080g's lighter. (587g KB vs 722g SP - I estimated
that the SP is 582g and the pin is 140g, I couldn't find the weight of the
coated piston, only an uncoated version, nor the actual pin weight.)

It appears that the lightweight KB piston includes a lightweight pin
that weighs 102g vs. 140g for a standard KB piston.

Does anyone know the weight of a speedpro hyper piston (H631CP) ?
The company web site doesn't list weights...
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