Help With Piston Selection
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Help With Piston Selection Well looking to order some new piston in a 3.903 bore but I have a few questions before I spend the money. They will be going in my stock LS1
I will be using my stock crank already grinded with matching clevite bearings, stock rods, 853 heads (ported) and will be using MLS head gaskets I already had pry gap welded in, & stock cam, stock ls1 intake, & some ebay long tubes
It will be N/A really maybe a mild cam in the future, ls6 intake, Mainly bolt ons
My 1st question is what is a safe +/- cc i can go?
Im looking to run 91 octane as that all New Mexico has to offer so around 12:1
2. 3.903 or 3.905 bore pistons?
I really want to stay with Wiseco pistons
3. Dome or flat top piston?
I will be using my stock crank already grinded with matching clevite bearings, stock rods, 853 heads (ported) and will be using MLS head gaskets I already had pry gap welded in, & stock cam, stock ls1 intake, & some ebay long tubes
It will be N/A really maybe a mild cam in the future, ls6 intake, Mainly bolt ons
My 1st question is what is a safe +/- cc i can go?
Im looking to run 91 octane as that all New Mexico has to offer so around 12:1
2. 3.903 or 3.905 bore pistons?
I really want to stay with Wiseco pistons
3. Dome or flat top piston?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Any thoughts on these I found these on wiseco's catalog & I had a question on deck height? I heard i may have to have pistons milled down to clear? What is the stock deck height of a 1999 Camaro SS?
You'll have a 9.24 deck height.
Formula is deck height - piston compression height - rod length - (crankshaft stroke/2)
So 9.24-1.335-6.098-1.811= -.004 meaning the pistons will stick .004 above the deck and thats what the 9.244 number represents. 9.240+.004. The negative number justt indicates they stick out instead of being sunk in.
Your pistons will not need to be milled if I read your post correctly. These engines come from the factory with anywhere from .005-.009 with .006-.007 being avg from what ive seen on this board.
Formula is deck height - piston compression height - rod length - (crankshaft stroke/2)
So 9.24-1.335-6.098-1.811= -.004 meaning the pistons will stick .004 above the deck and thats what the 9.244 number represents. 9.240+.004. The negative number justt indicates they stick out instead of being sunk in.
Your pistons will not need to be milled if I read your post correctly. These engines come from the factory with anywhere from .005-.009 with .006-.007 being avg from what ive seen on this board.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
You'll have a 9.24 deck height.
Formula is deck height - piston compression height - rod length - (crankshaft stroke/2)
So 9.24-1.335-6.098-1.811= -.004 meaning the pistons will stick .004 above the deck and thats what the 9.244 number represents. 9.240+.004. The negative number justt indicates they stick out instead of being sunk in.
Your pistons will not need to be milled if I read your post correctly. These engines come from the factory with anywhere from .005-.009 with .006-.007 being avg from what ive seen on this board.
Formula is deck height - piston compression height - rod length - (crankshaft stroke/2)
So 9.24-1.335-6.098-1.811= -.004 meaning the pistons will stick .004 above the deck and thats what the 9.244 number represents. 9.240+.004. The negative number justt indicates they stick out instead of being sunk in.
Your pistons will not need to be milled if I read your post correctly. These engines come from the factory with anywhere from .005-.009 with .006-.007 being avg from what ive seen on this board.
The Diamonds are in the same class performance wise that I really like and that is they're lighter than stock pistons while the Wisecos are heavier. The Wiseco's have coated skirtsand a thinner ring packace that seems to be really nice. Alot of big names that have come in on xxx piston vs. yyy piston have pretty much agreed that theyre both nice but alot like the ring package of the wisecos and they need less clean up and deburring/finishing at the machine shop for installation.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
So with the diamond pistons I will be at a deck height of 0 if im correct
9.24-1.331-6.098-1.811= 0
Should I stick with a piston deck height of 0 also With the piston being lighter, will i run the issue of needing malory being added to my crank when having my rotating assembly balanced? Sorry for all the questions Being on a budget sucks lol
9.24-1.331-6.098-1.811= 0
Should I stick with a piston deck height of 0 also With the piston being lighter, will i run the issue of needing malory being added to my crank when having my rotating assembly balanced? Sorry for all the questions Being on a budget sucks lol
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Could you be more specific... Stick with flat tops in the 2-4cc range. Closer to 2 the better. Bore size will make no difference that close together. If you could choose either of the two for the same piston id go 3.905. Only reason to not go as far is having more material for future rebuilds. If you get to the point to NEED a cleanup youll remove more than that ..002 anyways i would think. Performance increase would be next to nothing but even though tiny still provides compression increase and unshrouds valves but you might only to be able to see it on paper vs the dyno/track. Enough pennies make a dollar though haha. If it comes down to choice between one manufactures piston vs anothers though dont base it on a .002 larger bore.
The Diamonds are in the same class performance wise that I really like and that is they're lighter than stock pistons while the Wisecos are heavier.
The Diamonds are in the same class performance wise that I really like and that is they're lighter than stock pistons while the Wisecos are heavier.
Forgot to mention the Wiseco's ring package is probably worth more than the .002 smaller bore holds back. Also, 99% of the time Diamond prices are without ring set included whereas the Wiseco sets do include them making them a lil cheaper or the same most of the time.
I'd get the 2cc for ptv clearance. You can mill plenty and still never have to worry whereas you couldnt with the 0cc
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
True true But I found a set of 0cc for around 510 shipped & diamond sells there ring set for 185 & 12 shipping for a total of 710.. But I called wiseco & they will make a custom set of there pistons in the 3.905 bore with everything in the -2cc for around 780.. Im thinking about the wiseco more & more now....
I'd shoot for a 1.334 compression height if it were mine and keep the pistons out of the hole. That will give you a tighter quench which has its own benefits. Thats head gasket thickness- deck height which is how far out the deck the pistons are.
Id get the pistons I thought were better and if compression wasnt high enough, use a .040 head gasket vs stock, then mill heads for the rest in that order. Play with this for a little bit.
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...be5d4b996fcb8e
Id get the pistons I thought were better and if compression wasnt high enough, use a .040 head gasket vs stock, then mill heads for the rest in that order. Play with this for a little bit.
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...be5d4b996fcb8e
I'd roll with the 3903 bore. The extra sleeve material offers piece of mind however I have a 98 car so the 99 should be a thicker sleeve. I run a forged Weisco -3.2cc. .005 OTH. AI Ported 806's milled .075 by AI. I opted for the Compstar 6.125 rods. .045 MLS gasket. My machine shop usually does a little piston cleanup work on the wrist pin journals and these Wiescos required nothing but ring gap adjustment. I'm happy with them.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
I'd shoot for a 1.334 compression height if it were mine and keep the pistons out of the hole. That will give you a tighter quench which has its own benefits. Thats head gasket thickness- deck height which is how far out the deck the pistons are.
Id get the pistons I thought were better and if compression wasnt high enough, use a .040 head gasket vs stock, then mill heads for the rest in that order. Play with this for a little bit.
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...be5d4b996fcb8e
Id get the pistons I thought were better and if compression wasnt high enough, use a .040 head gasket vs stock, then mill heads for the rest in that order. Play with this for a little bit.
https://www.uempistons.com/index.php...be5d4b996fcb8e
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
I'd roll with the 3903 bore. The extra sleeve material offers piece of mind however I have a 98 car so the 99 should be a thicker sleeve. I run a forged Weisco -3.2cc. .005 OTH. AI Ported 806's milled .075 by AI. I opted for the Compstar 6.125 rods. .045 MLS gasket. My machine shop usually does a little piston cleanup work on the wrist pin journals and these Wiescos required nothing but ring gap adjustment. I'm happy with them.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 6
From: Marengo, Ia
Well looking to order some new piston in a 3.903 bore but I have a few questions before I spend the money. They will be going in my stock LS1
I will be using my stock crank already grinded with matching clevite bearings, stock rods, 853 heads (ported) and will be using MLS head gaskets I already had pry gap welded in, & stock cam, stock ls1 intake, & some ebay long tubes
It will be N/A really maybe a mild cam in the future, ls6 intake, Mainly bolt ons
My 1st question is what is a safe +/- cc i can go?
Im looking to run 91 octane as that all New Mexico has to offer so around 12:1
2. 3.903 or 3.905 bore pistons?
I really want to stay with Wiseco pistons
3. Dome or flat top piston?
I will be using my stock crank already grinded with matching clevite bearings, stock rods, 853 heads (ported) and will be using MLS head gaskets I already had pry gap welded in, & stock cam, stock ls1 intake, & some ebay long tubes
It will be N/A really maybe a mild cam in the future, ls6 intake, Mainly bolt ons
My 1st question is what is a safe +/- cc i can go?
Im looking to run 91 octane as that all New Mexico has to offer so around 12:1
2. 3.903 or 3.905 bore pistons?
I really want to stay with Wiseco pistons
3. Dome or flat top piston?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Well I may Lightly boost it in the near future maybe 5 lbs but the thing is there around the same price.. You think because the machine shop has already honed my rods with matching oversized bearings I can have them install the arp bolts? They did it with the stock rod bolts too? or will they have to machined again?