LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Best Forged Piston?

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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:34 PM
  #21  
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Before you go and spend ANY money, you need a more solid understanding of the steps that go into rebuilding a motor. Seriously.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by ThreeHonks
good info. its gonna cost you at least $4k if you do it right too.
at a minimum I've got way more than that into just the shortblock. Also to achieve 14:1 compression takes alot, I've got 13.9:1 with a .005 deck 60cc heads and a custom cometic gasket down around .027 compressed. It takes alot to get that high.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by ThreeHonks
The pistons are not going to be your weak point anyway. Stock will be just fine.

On a side note: if you want more compression take your heads to a machine shop and have them mill them about .200" that will give you your 14:1 or whatever you wanted. If you have a band saw, that could work too..
Well with a little research, I now know the week link is the rod bolts. So I'll probably upgrade to a titainium or polished aluminum H-beam rod. I'ld like to keep my stock crank. So I might as well go with the best forged pistons for my stock heads and 292xfi cam? Without mill-work!
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:37 PM
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$4K was just a basic figure I threw out there to let him know its expensive.

PM sent on your heads quik95
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by quik95lt1
I'll tell you right now your going to have to clean up your cylinder walls prob .030" over inorder to get a good finish and ring seat espically on a motor that has never been rebuilt before (I am assuming you have above 50K miles at least). You will have to hone it at the very least inorder to acheive the correct piston to wall clearance for the new pistons and also to allow the rings to seat properly. Next you will want to stay under 11.8-12:1 to run pump gas with a mild tune. You're also going to have to re-balance the rotating assembly for the new crank and rods. I recommend talking to a machine shop about it. As for good pistons at a good price mahle, SRP Pro Series and Diamond are great ways to go. Also when you say right/left piston, I'm not sure what your talking about they are all the same. Your going to basically have to rebuild the motor. Also with the new rods and pistons they will need to have the rod ends sized to achieve proper clearance with the right size bearing on the rods and mains and you will also have to properly clearance the pin in the rod/piston to allow for oiling.

All in all its not a light task to undertake if you have never built an engine before or have no professional guidance. Like I said before I'd reccomend talking to a machine shop.
Yes, I know enough to check cylinder ware and hone it!
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by 1 Craz28
Yes, I know enough to check cylinder ware and hone it!
comming from a guy who has built alot of motors I was just tryin to help you out, you asked is it that easy and I explained the process for you.

Hope my info will help.
Good luck with the build.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:42 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by ThreeHonks
$4K was just a basic figure I threw out there to let him know its expensive.

PM sent on your heads quik95
Wow $4K? Why so much. All I want to do is upgrade rods and pistons?
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by quik95lt1
comming from a guy who has built alot of motors I was just tryin to help you out, you asked is it that easy and I explained the process for you.

Hope my info will help.
Good luck with the build.
Thanks, but I don't see how you don't know about side specific pistons?
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 02:48 PM
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machine work will easily be over $1000, then $500 pistons, $400 rods, etc. The list goes on and on. Thats why I say to just cam it and mill heads .020" to .030" ($100 at a local machine shop) to give ou 11.5:1 compression and a fun street car that runs on pump gas
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 03:00 PM
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Well I am going to pull the motor before I attempt to remove heads. And I want to stay away from the machine shops. I am running E10 so it is high octane. I guess I'll contact a piston manufacturer for the best side specific, high compression piston and rod combo...
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 03:03 PM
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good luck with the build
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 03:27 PM
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I got my block boiled, bored, honed, line honed and cam bearing for around $500 and got Scat forged I beams and Mahl forged pistons for $630 Bearing's arp hardware for a few hundred more. I guess if you get better parts but DAMN $4000
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by 1 Craz28
Well I am going to pull the motor before I attempt to remove heads. And I want to stay away from the machine shops. I am running E10 so it is high octane. I guess I'll contact a piston manufacturer for the best side specific, high compression piston and rod combo...
Stop being stubborn and listen to what people are telling you. You need to READ, READ, READ, because most of what you're saying doesn't make any sense. If I had more time, I'd be happy to break it down for you. In the meantime, search, for the love of god. Find someone who has done what it is you're looking to do and go from there.

And FWIW, if you want to avoid machine shops, then avoid touching your motor, period.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 04:18 PM
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Dude if I haul my block to a local machine shop and tell them to prep it for bigger pistons, I know they will say five grand please. Unless I haul it out of state or something? I am just doing a simple rod and piston swap. And main bearings too........I was just interested in the latest piston technology, that's all.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 04:32 PM
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this thread is kind of old but it may help you out

https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ottem-end.html
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 04:56 PM
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Does anyone have any input on a 352 set-up? Using JE stock bore domed pistons.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 06:30 PM
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by ThreeHonks
What? The only thing I can't figure out is that it shows six inch rods? But it still shows stock bore and stroke? I guess six inch rods will work with stock crank and these pistons?
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 07:32 PM
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Craz....I know you from somewhere else. You may not need forged pistons unless you are planning on hitting it with a pretty decent sized shot. You can get a good hypereutectic piston that will weigh alot less and spend the money that you would have spent on the forged pistons on a good balancing of the rotating assembly.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 07:46 PM
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Hmmm, the JE forged domed weigh 438grams, and the lighter polished aluminum H-beam rods I'm not sure of. What are the stock piston and rod weight?
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