Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
View Poll Results: Which pistons would you go with?
Mahle -6cc
67
53.60%
Diamond -7cc
58
46.40%
Voters: 125. You may not vote on this poll

Diamond or Mahle?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 10, 2008 | 07:09 AM
  #41  
black01_WS6's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,857
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers, FL.
Default

Originally Posted by BIG BAD BLACKSS
Males in the aftermarket LSX world seem to traditionally be a 4032, whereas the diamonds are 2618's. Two totally different meterials for two different applications. 4032 is a weaker material that tends to crack when pushed too far. 2618 is stronger and will tend to deform some rather then crack when they fail. The tradeoff is the 2618s last maybe half as long as a 4032. 2618 isnt for a motor your building to get many years of performance from. Its for a hardcore build thats gonna put down big power on a power adder. In that regard the diamonds far exceed the mahle pistons.

For a moderate n/a build the mahle is your piston. For a big HP nitrous or boost motor 2618 is the only way to go in my opinion.
Does anyone knoe if there is any piston that works for both applications last a bit longetr and can take a big hit- i am guessing not but would throw out the idea.

Also how do the eagle pistons compare to the rest?
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2008 | 11:34 PM
  #42  
playtoy's Avatar
Launching!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Dayton/Houston
Default

Originally Posted by racer7088
Mahles like the powerpak designs are decent cheap pistons but are definitely weaker than the Diamond 2618 pistons on average. The pistons in an F1 engine have nothing in common with these Mahle "powerpack" deals you guys are talking about at all but they are semi decent pistons if you don't plan in using much NOS. The Mahles tend to on average have much thinner ringlands than the other players like Wiseco, Diamond etc.

The only problems we usually seem to see Mahle piston customers having is in the wire locks not fitting due to large burrs on them. If you take those burrs off you will have no problems but I've seen some Mahle destruction from pins coming out where people just tried to force those round wire locks in without deburring them and disaster struck. Again most were the home built variety which have those problems anyway but still we've had to deburr every set of Mahle wire locks we've gotten and I won't sell them to a home builder anymore.
Well you obviously did something right when you put my motor together. About 10,000 hard miles on her and the Mahle's are still holding strong.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 01:11 AM
  #43  
camaro_fanatic2003's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: Hot Springs, AR
Default

This is an old post, lol. But that was a good question about a middle ground I thought...if there is one.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 10:45 PM
  #44  
racer7088's Avatar
FormerVendor
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 6
From: Houston, Tx.
Thumbs up

Originally Posted by playtoy
Well you obviously did something right when you put my motor together. About 10,000 hard miles on her and the Mahle's are still holding strong.
They are great pistons but just not for bigger NOS basically. The higher rings can actually make more hp in NA use. They're just not as NOS friendly and now Mahle's newer stuff does have a lower top ring land than they did back then on many of their pistons now.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 10:47 PM
  #45  
jkwalkercchs's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
From: morristown/newport,tn
Default

i say mahle because they keep a good bit of my town employed
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2008 | 02:58 PM
  #46  
1320 killer's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
Default

I have used diamonds on my past 2 motors. Both motors made great power and ran great. I always go with what works.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:07 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE