C4VetteLS1

I found that Wiseco sells a LS1 stock replacement piston (.005 over) that appears to be very good quality. Pricing on it appears to be in the $500 plus $80 for rings price range.

thats about $100-150 cheaper than everyother company.

Has anyone seen these pistons in use or know anything about them? they are listed on wiseco's webpage.

http://www.wiseco.com/PDFcatalogs/20...reen_chevy.pdf


Any thoughts by anyone?

MikeMs01TA

iTrader: (2)

I've got them in my motorcycle, and my brother has them in his jet-ski, but those are both pretty low mileage vehicles. I've never known anyone that used them in a car, but I've never heard of any problems with them in motorcycles. I'm assuming the car kit is also a forged piston.

David Plum

I returned them there heavier than stock and only fit stock pin dia. Lunati are much lighter and close in price.

pony killer

don't know about the ls1 pistons but i run wiesco pistons in my v/w for the last 5 years thier a very quality product from my experinces <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

DONAIMIAN

iTrader: (18)

I thought they only made dirt bike pistons too. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

703crewchief

We are currently building a forged shortblock and when shopping for pistons the guys at MTI suggested the Wiseco set. Those guys have built quite a few bottom ends, and if they like them they must be alright. But, we went with JEs for $550.

GeorgeC

FWIW, I had Wiseco .005 over forged pistons in my old 346 (actually 347cid @ .005 hone). Unfortuantely I broke two connecting rods in that motor, but the pistons worked well.

I think they're a good choice for the "budget conscious" using stock rods. I'd definately spring for ARP rod bolts, though. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Stu'sWS6

iTrader: (3)

I have the wiseco's in my 346. Check Summit for the pricing on the rings-they are around 140.00. Pistons were 458.00. I have a set of brand new wiseco rings for the .005 over wiseco ls1 pistons. selling for 100.00 shipped. Great bang for the buck, IMO <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I'd check our sponsors for pricing on Diamond pistons, you might be surprised.

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Pro Stock John:
<strong> I'd check our sponsors for pricing on Diamond pistons, you might be surprised. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't think Diamond was around when I did my 347... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

That's probably who I'd go with if I was doing the same thing again today. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

C4VetteLS1

I did a bunch of searching: I just ordered the wisecos because i found them for $380 + $80 for rings from one company (summit must be marking up pretty big

I dont think any other brand can beat a great set of wisecos for $380

For $460 total, theyve got my buisness

AP-Engineering

Wiseco makes a very good piston and the prices is also very good for them. The reason that they are at the lower price is because it looks like they are suppling you guy's with Forged side relief pistons. Which means that they are not a fully machined pistons the sides of the pin boss's are left as forged. These will reduce the cost tremendously due to not machining the sides. Our pistons are fully machined just like JE's pistons and Ross's. We also include 4130 wrist pins at no charge. The other companies usually supply you with carborized wrist pins with there pistons and offer the 4130's as a up grade. I am just trying to explain the difference between the two pistons. Both will work fine for most street cars. If anyone needs any help with pistons please feel free to contact me.

Thanks,
Chris Gelineau
Diamond Pistons
877-552-2112 toll free

David Plum

Weisco is a heavy piston alot of stress on your conn. rods. This is not the time to be cheap do it right the first time.

TurboTnZ06

I have custom forged Wiseco's in my Turbo Buick now. They weren't cheap, as they are the same alloy used in the top fuel dragsters.

My machinist said they are so strong that you could take them out back and beat on them with a 10 lb sledge hammer and they would still be perfect.

JAS

I have Wiseco's also from Summit. Nice 2618 alloy forged pistons for the price. I believe they are 447 grams. Piston Pin 122grams. If I'm not mistaken, that is a lighter forged setup than the stock hypers in the LS1. Where are you guys getting this heavier stuff from???

Chris G, what benefit is there to machining the side on the pin sides aside from looks? Also, how many times do these non-4130 wrist pins fail and at what rpm/power level?

<small>[ February 12, 2003, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: JAS ]</small>

AP-Engineering

The Wiseco pistons are heavy if they weigh 447 grams. The stock piston weighs ~ 435 grams. Our replacement pistons weigh 405 grams. So we give you a lighter piston to work with.

As for the non 4130 wrist pins breaking, I can not tell you how many break. That is a open ended question that I for surely lose. All I can tell you is that the 4130 is a stronger material that is more fracture resistant. This will allow you to increase cylinder pressure without having to worry about breaking a wrist pin.

The benefit of having a fully machined piston over the forged side relief. Well there is only this....by machining the sides of the piston you can tailor it to the thickness that you need or want for the application that you are trying to fit it into. So by having a forged side relief you either have to live with what ever thickness you get or not have what you need. It just limits you on the spectrum of the forging. As for say a strength issue there really isn't one they can both do the same job if engineered correctly. Hope that helps.

Thanks,
Chris Gelineau
Diamond pistons
877-552-2112 toll free

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Wow that's a wide variance in weights, and good to know.

Are most aftermarket pistons made from the same steel, ie. like 4340?

JAS

Chris, what does your 4130 wrist pin weigh and what is the total for the piston and pin? I don't care what a piston weighs by itself. After all it's the weight of the piston AND pin that hangs at the end of the rod isn't it?

What alloy do you guys use, etc? From my understanding 2618 forged alloy are the strongest pistons you can buy generally. Am I wrong?

Obviously, to save weight (same alloy) you have to take away material from somewhere possibly affecting strength? So where does the 42grams save get cut from on the piston? Different alloy? Is it the side wrist pin supports? Is it deck support? Obviously different application pistons will be different alloy use and material thickness, etc. Is the 405gram piston a nitrous/blower piston?

I'm sure your pistons are exceptional also. No question. I would just like to know what compromises Weisco had to make in their "cheap" piston that would make it a compromise in a motor making 500rwhp. It has most if not all the "features" of other pistons.

Bottom line, do I believe my Weisco's will support 600rwhp with ease? Yes. Someone tell me why they won't? Design? Material? Price?????

John, are you talking about 4032 alloy? Chris can probably explain all the different alloys used in pistons and give us all a good lesson on pistons. How about it Chris?

<small>[ February 12, 2003, 05:25 PM: Message edited by: JAS ]</small>

C4VetteLS1

just got my wiseco's in the mail. They weigh in at 448 grams per pistons.


Wow, they look good, cant wait to get them in the motor. Ended up being $444 with rings.

AP-Engineering

JAS - Our pin weighs 129 grams. It is a .945 x 2.500 x .155 wall. I would like to say that the Wiseco's are a good pistons. No question on that. I was just trying to explain the difference between the two. Yes, your Wiseco's will most likely stand up to you putting down 600 rwhp.

Also the 405 gram piston is our #11500, which is a direct replacement piston. It was designed to handle up to a 150-200hp shot. It is made from 2618 alloy.

The two major alloys that are used in making pistons are 2618 and 4032. 2618 is the alloy that we use for all of our power adder and race pistons. This material has a higher expansion rate then the 4032. It will also handle greater amount s of cylinder pressure without cracking. The 4032 alloy is what we use if we are making a street piston that is not going to see much more than say at most a 100 shot. The 4032 will not hold up to the higher cylinder pressures foound in power adder cars. They will fail after a short period if subjected to this abuse. The benefit of the 4032 is that you can run much tighter piston to wall clearance. This in turn will give you much longer life and a quiter engine on cold starts. Just remember that in choosing a piston there are trade offs that have to happen. You just have to pick the one that is going to suit you.

As for where you get the weight out of a piston, there are several ways to do this. None of which compromise the pistons strength. When we design pistons we design them for they are going to be used for. So if you tell use you are going to spray the engine with say 400hp of nitrous. We know not to make the piston to thin through the crown, because if we do then chances are we will have a unhappy customer when they have holes in there pistons from the nitrous. Point I am getting at is this, if you know what you are designing the pistons for you can make them to your desired weight. Where as the forged side relief pistons are designed for one design in mind and you usually can not take as much weight out of them if you need or want to. They are meant to be close to the final product when they are just a raw forging. This cut the machining steps out of them and brings the price down.

I appreciate the questions and if you have anymore please keep posting. That is what this site is for. Hope I am giving you the answer that you are looking for and not just babling.

Thanks,
Chris Gelineau
Diamond Pistons
877-552-2112 toll free