Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Piston/Cylinder clearance

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 12:33 PM
  #1  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default Piston/Cylinder clearance

I have a set of #11503 Diamond Pistons (3.905 bore, stock stroke, -8.6cc dish.), building for 15-16psi of boost, but not sure on piston/cylinder wall clearance with these particular pistons. Machine shop set it at .0025-.003", but I'm not sure if that will work or not. I ordered a couple replacement pistons for it because 2 I had were dinged, I went to stick them in, and they're too big. The numbers on the bottom are the same, but when you mic them, the new ones measure 3.903, while the ones that were used to hone the block measure 3.900, which leads me to believe the bore SHOULD be 3.905 which would give .005" clearance, while the 3.903 (new) pistons should finish at 3.908 (.010 oversize), also giving .005" clearance. Please help, to sum it up, i have 6 pistons from the original set that fit, while the 2 replacements, same part # are measuring .003" bigger, and bind up. Any ideas?
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 01:43 PM
  #2  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

Weird, did you try calling diamond?? I havn't measured my set of 3.905's yet. When I get home tonight I will measure them and see what they are. I seem to think the clearence was around .003.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 01:54 PM
  #3  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default

I'm working with Victory racing engines, where I got the 2 pistons from. He's trying his best to help me. I'm gonna mic the cylinders today and see what I come up with. I just don't want to stick a piston because I didn't give it enough clearance. Thanks bud, appreciate it! =)
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 04:07 PM
  #4  
Nate_Taufer's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 0
From: North of Seattle
Default

Most guys shoot for around .004" on a n/a aluminum engine. For your application I could see going .005" but I would rather gap the rings a little wider and run the piston tighter.

Nate
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 04:22 PM
  #5  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default

So me running .0025-.003 just isn't gonna cut it for clearance then?
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 04:56 PM
  #6  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

I just measured 4 of mine. They all came in at 3.902...
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:01 PM
  #7  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default

That's strange, the ones I got from SR71 all measure 3.899-3.900. 2 New ones are 3.903.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:15 PM
  #8  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

seems .003 is fine for NA street engines and .005-.007 for street blower cars or thats what Probe recommends for 2618 alloy. JE pistons recommends .003-.004 for street and add +.0015-.0025 for forced induction.. Your machine shop should have called Diamond for specs for a blown motor... .003 is probably still fine if you are running meth....005-.007 is probably safer. I'm going to call Diamond before I go to the machine shop. You would think that since these are designed for boost, Diamond would have machined in the tolorance for the 3.905 bore...Maybe Diamond measures a specific spot on the pistons....
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:20 PM
  #9  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

I measured about 1/4" from the bottom of the skirt...
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:20 PM
  #10  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default

Yeah, shoot... Guess I'll be taking the bottom end back out of it and driving another hour north to have it re-machined. I'll have them put something like .0055" in it, and call it done. Thanks again!

Tony
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:35 PM
  #11  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

Now this is interesting, Wiseco 2618 pistons they say their LS1 piston is designed for as little as .004

My Diamons spec sheet that came with the pistons says...

Install these pistons with .0035 clearence measured 90 degrees to the pin hole @ 1.250" down from the oil ring

Last edited by chriswtx; Oct 24, 2006 at 05:46 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 05:38 PM
  #12  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

I got 3.9015" at that location...
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 08:34 PM
  #13  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default

Have some pics at the link below... didn't want to bog the page down. The block mics out at 3.902, as seen in the picture. New pistons mic out 3.903, and old ones mic 3.899. Same part #, but different design. More ideas?

http://pontiac.wirelesstcp.net/tonypics/parts/pistons/
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 08:39 PM
  #14  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

Hang on a sec...
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 08:44 PM
  #15  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

Weird, mine are even different than both of yours...



Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 08:50 PM
  #16  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default

Yeah, the new ones don't even have 1.250" worth of skirt to measure! I'm going CRAZY!
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 08:56 PM
  #17  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

Need to call Diamond and do some bitching....
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2006 | 09:35 PM
  #18  
sr71's Avatar
TECH Regular
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 495
Likes: 53
From: Knoxville,TN
Default

not only is the fit a problem, from the looks of the difference in the pics, the weight is going to be a few grams off too.

how about a pic of the dinged places on the 2 pistons??? I went over those things with a fine tooth comb several times before I ever posted them for sale here and on corvette forum. Chris can vouch for the fact that if you put something up for sale on corvette forum and don't note every single scratch in your post, you will be getting the parts back and paying for shipping both ways. if things aren't in EXCELLENT condition, they go in the trash can.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2006 | 01:05 PM
  #19  
67Firebird455's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (27)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 12
From: Visalia, California
Default

Originally Posted by sr71
not only is the fit a problem, from the looks of the difference in the pics, the weight is going to be a few grams off too.

how about a pic of the dinged places on the 2 pistons??? I went over those things with a fine tooth comb several times before I ever posted them for sale here and on corvette forum. Chris can vouch for the fact that if you put something up for sale on corvette forum and don't note every single scratch in your post, you will be getting the parts back and paying for shipping both ways. if things aren't in EXCELLENT condition, they go in the trash can.
Yeah, I'm going to check the pistons for weight, just have to find a scale to get them on. I'll get some pics of the dinged pistons, like I said bud, they totally weren't your fault. I didn't see the dings anywhere on the pistons when I got them, and I completely stand behind you as a seller.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2006 | 04:58 PM
  #20  
chriswtx's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: san marcos, TX
Default

Did you get a chance to call Diamond and ask about the 3 different pistons all with the same part numbers...
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:59 PM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE