I'm about to order a rotating assembly and I was wondering which piston to order.

Wisco or Mahle? Also what pin diameter 2.100 or 2.000?

Any experiences, thoughts or input would be appreciated.

thanks

 

my vote is for the mahles

 

What are your intended uses for the engine.

2.00 pin is nice Will free up a little power over the 2.100.

Tim

 

It's for a LQ4 based 408 NA street/strip.

 

Wiseco, the Mahle pistons are very nice but you get the stronger forging and a better ring package from Wiseco compared to the Mahle Power Pak. The Mahle Pro Series are awesome but you can get a great piston & ring set for not a lot of money from Wiseco. The steel top and napier second are durable and help make more power.

 

I've read that Mahle's piston designs are top notch, came from an experience guy on this board, but I'm not sure the reality of it.

 

I've ran quite a few sets of the Mahle Power packs in 4 cylinder applications. I wouldnt hesitate to use them in a LS

 

Been running Mahle's for 7 years and ~40K trouble free miles in my car, I'm happy with them.

 

Can't go wrong with either. They both have the teflon skirt coating and the
Mahle's even have the thermal barrier coating on the top which is believed
to reject more heat back into the combustion chamber for better power. The
2.0" rod pin is said to offer more clearance for stroker applications and save
or minimalize grinding the block for rod interference.

 

I really like Mahle as well. They do have excellent designs and a lot of standard features. The Power Pak is a high quality setup but the Wiseco set is a better value for the reasons I stated. I would choose Mahle Pro Series over the Wiseco but they're expensive. The Mahle pistons do not come with a thermal coating on top. It's just a phosphate protective coating. The 2.000 rod journal can free up power and improve room for stroker cranks but some less expensive rods just put a smaller hole in the same rod. That negates some of the benefits. They are both good options but for slightly different applications.

 

I would run the Mahles over Wiseco any day. We have many rotating assemblies that will get you what you want. Feel free to pick our brain!
Any rod, any crank, most any setup.
I am not too sure about the power gains from a 2" pin to a 2.100" pin so I cannot comment on that nor any extra room that may be freed up. That depends on the rod/company and not really the pin per se.
Quite a few piston companies offer skirt coatings as an option while mahle has them no matter what, and they have the full piston coating as well on all the power pack series.
We have used them and sold them to customers that use them in some pretty wild setups and never had issues. Plus they also make most of the auto manuf pistons as well and they seem to be doing just fine.

 

Can you give your opinion as to why Mahles are better? I'm doing a 383 and havent purchased bottom end yet.

 

Over all the many piston companies I have used, I have never had a problem with blowby/oil consumption (with proper machining) on any LS engine I have personally done nor have they needed a catch can. They dont have issues with noise or any other problems either. The rings they come with work very well for a variety of uses. They have the skirt coating std as well as the full piston coating, which is possibly just a break in/dry film coating, but i cannot say that for 100% so dont quote me on it. They are available in a huge variety of styles and sizes and offered in 4032 or 2618 materials. I would use the 4032 for quite a few more applications than most would, for a few different reasons.

If you get the chance at PRI or another conference like that to talk to the Mahle guys, hit them up and you will find out why I like them so much.

 

Wiseco. Super factory help & support.

 

Here's you some food for thought https://ls1tech.com/forums/ls1tech-s...d-pistons.html

 

Im not biased toward either. Just came across this.

 

Hey there, as the Wiseco guy, I'd be curious to see what's up with that guys pistons. RMA number, where he got them from etc. etc. Exactly how untuned it was...etc. He may have sent them in, but I've never heard about it...normally I would. We've got our pistons in a lot of 7,8,9, second cars. Ring land near the intake pocket would be the failure point on any piston with big nitrous, but I've NEVER seen a cracked skirt on our pistons. Not saying the guy didn't have the problem, but I'd like some pictures and the story from his engine builder.

 

COSPEED does not build any engines. Contact competent engine builders to see what they use. These pistons are utilized in different applications. The Mahle Power Pak is a more economical choice while the Wiseco is intended for more abusive applications. Mahle has a moly coated ring while Wiseco has the nitrided steel ring. Get the piston that best fits your application and you won't have any issues. Most piston failures come from incorrect application and use not the piston itself.

 

Coloradospeed as an entity does not but I personally do. Ask before you trash sir.

 

And mahle makes alot more than a std ring. Does the term "hellfire" ring a bell? They also have custom made stainless steel pistons for a few tractor pull guys I know.