500 rwhp streeet driven
Yip, I'd guess it was detonation. That is one of my points here. You are on borrowed time. One mishap and it is all over. If he'd had forged pistons, it may well have survived.
Dope
<strong>I'm not sure. I know it was an upgraded fuel system as per GWP's specs. Larger injectors, programming, pump, etc.
Yip, I'd guess it was detonation. That is one of my points here. You are on borrowed time. One mishap and it is all over. If he'd had forged pistons, it may well have survived.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Exactly my point...If it was detonation, than the cracked piston was due to an improper tune or lack or quality of fuel. This is NOT the fault of the engine. A built, forged, bulletproof engine will NOT stand up to an improper tune or lack of fuel. It is as simple as that. 500 rwhp is no problem at all for a daily driven Ls1. <img border="0" alt="[Banging Head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
A good forged piston will take MUCH more abuse than a stock hyper piston will.
I have my own shop press and when I swapped out a couple stock pistons off the rods they cracked in half.
Just like breaking a vase or something.
A good 2618 alloy forged piston won't crack. Simple as that.
You can make them last with a good safe tune.But you have to keep in mind when your setting up your tune, that your 500hp motor has a dime store piston in it.
So the story is my father (2002 z28) and a close friend (2002 ss) both bought camaros recently and another friend of mine is starting to take interest in a ws6. Right now he has a FULLY (many many hours and $'s)worked eclipse that has run down a mid 12 z06 (4-5 car lengths before he shutdown) and kept up with a viper spraying a 150 shot on the highway. His next project might be a ws6 and I just was collecting some forced induction info for him.
P.S. the dsm stories are not BS, and I'm not trying to compare the 2. Just to let you know. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Course I have only 900 miles on it. Harlan had what....2000 miles. Also turbos don't hammer your head on the highway cruising along like my NA car did.
But adding heads and cam aren't even needed for close to 600RWHP with a turbo or blower.
So you could just put the money into the shortblock and turn up the boost and make a lot more power safely for about the same cost as heads and cam.
You can get good 2618 forged pistons for 500-700$.
Block hone 150$ or so.
rings 100$
toss in some better rod bolts- 75$
good bearings- rod and main- 80$
arp head studs and better gaskets-350$
rebalance crank-100$
Piston R&R about 80$
that's a pretty good way to make a shortblock handle an easy 700hp for only about 1600$ in parts and machining cost.
If you can't do a engine assembly yourself then it will cost you a lot more.
But the fact is these pistons are a big weak link for any engine running boost or n20.
I ran mine until I cracked one. Got my moneys worth out them that is for sure.
Was running 200shots for a long time going back to 1998 before I finally cracked one.I got lucky and caught it doing a leakdown and plug checks before any damage was done except to my wallet.
Some guys don't get so lucky.
And I doubt a lot of guys take the precautions I
do.
Also you guys are completely ignoring the fact a stock factory shortblock has a tight top ring gap for poweradder.
Run it to lean and it butts. Then say goodbye to a ringland even if it never detonated.
Steve
I'm sure he is well over 500RWHP with stock internals and he is running great. Although I am a firm believer of builing the motor to take the power.
At least upgrade the rod bolts if you are gonna run some boost or a bug shot of N20


