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I'm trying to find the right piston heads for my LT1 engine rebuild. I have 62cc heads that I'm installing. I found out that GM made a performance piston for the 350 that has a compression ratio of 9.6:1 for the 62cc. I can't find anyone who sells these pistons anymore. The part number is 10159437. Any help would be appreciated
Was told that 10.5 was as high as I should go. This is my first build so I'm taking advice from all avenues. I don't want a detonation after putting all this money into this build
Whoever told you that must not be familiar with gen 2 LT1s. Reverse cooling means you can run more compression safely unlike traditional SBCs. Low 11s if you want to be safe.
The iron head b-body LT1 was 10:1 on 87 octane, the aluminum head f-body and Vette LT1 was 10.4 tuned for 91 octane, the LT4 was 10.8.
What heads are you using and what do you want from the build. The more info you give us the more we help.
I'm using Renegade aluminum heads for now. They are actually 64cc. I found some TRW pistons putting out 10.59 cr but I'm still looking around and gathering more info. I'm not racing my car at the track. Atleast not until I break my motor in then I might want to see what it can do. I just want some good power and the ability to shame ponies and ricers
Also my Tumble page has all parts I have acquired for this build.http://fikedemon12.tumblr.com/
I'm using Renegade aluminum heads for now. They are actually 64cc. I found some TRW pistons putting out 10.59 cr but I'm still looking around and gathering more info. I'm not racing my car at the track. Atleast not until I break my motor in then I might want to see what it can do. I just want some good power and the ability to shame ponies and ricers
Are you working on a GEN II (92-97) LT1 or an old school GEN I (1970s) LT-1?? Would help if you tell us what car you have. Go to your User CP and add that info to your Signature.
Are you working on a GEN II (92-97) LT1 or an old school GEN I (1970s) LT-1?? Would help if you tell us what car you have. Go to your User CP and add that info to your Signature.
Then scrap your entire plan and start over. You are headed in the wrong direction and getting terrible advise outside of here.
Stock GM heads well ported and complimentary cam can have even a mild street car running 12s in novice hands, and run 10s on a stock shortblock and can run 9s.
No need to look at aftermarket heads.
Why are you rebuilding? It is easy to go backwards from stock with heavier pistons, thicker rings, lower compression etc. The TRW pistons most guys pick are over 600grams, stock are 530ish the difference is a lot when it comes to connecting rod stress.
The worst "successful rebuild" of a LT1 I know of was a kid with an Impala who built a stroker that with headers made the same hp as a bone stock car. I say successful because it held together other than that it was a bad joke.
More info on the heads please? I am unfamiliar with them and therefore suspect they are for the wrong generation engine. The wrong parts cheap are very expensive.
There was no motor in the Camaro I'm building. I'm starting from scratch with a bare block. The heads I got for practically nothing.
When building an LT1, you need to forget everything you know about GEN I SBCs. (for the most part). A lot of old school machine shops don't know the LT1 and what it can do, thus the reason you are being told you can't run high compression.
And what are renegade heads? I've never heard of those for an LT1? These are LT1 specific heads right?
The heads where purchased from a friend who's father owns a machine shop and drag races cars. He said got the heads from his dad's shop in the attic as well as some other parts I needed. I don't think his dad knows lol. I got the heads, intake, timing chain, oil pan, balancer, comp cam rocker arms, valve springs and lifters for $400. Im looking up some LT1 heads now being that you guys think I should go that route. Like I said this is my first build so I'm trying to gather as much info as possible. I did some research on the heads
You're going to want factory aluminum LT1 heads, probably with a chamber size of 52-56cc, and a .026 head gasket. Spend the money ($1200-$1800) for a quality port job and valvetrain components from one of the well-known vendors on here that aligns with your performance goals.
04-29-2015, 10:48 PM
Need help finding Pistons for LT1 
