How much can/would you spray?
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How much can/would you spray? Mahle forged pistons, I built this motor for NA but have been tossing around the idea of throwing a plate kit at it. I have heard some complaints mainly by ford guys about spraying mahle pistons and breaking ring lands. My question is how much could I safely spray a mahle forged piston with a 1.125 compression height?
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From one of the kits, a 175hp shot should be no problem. But there is wayyyyyy more to know about nitrous then what nitrous/fuel jet you want to run. A VERY GOOD nitrous guru can get hypereutectic pistons to handle a 200hp shot, it's been done before, but not recommended for amatuers, lol. Timing, how you apply the nitrous, how well you can read a plug, rpm window, etc, etc, all come into play. I don't know jack **** about it but I like to read up on this stuff. Here's a few quotes from the nitous LT1 record holder:
Spraying 250 on a stock shortblock:
Just a few things to put out there, for what it is worth. I try to run on the lean side of things. I would like the fuel ring to be real light in color and don't worry about a specific AFR. At the same time my afr is leaner then 12.8 on all my tuneups. I was able to spray 350 on 112 octane and did not even burn a strap. I did this because I start with a timing number that is low. I started at 15* on a 250 shot and went up from there. I started at 12* on the 350 shot. I did that because on the 250 jetting I was able to get the timing up 22* without much of a timing mark. It is better off to be a little slow and not have any burnt straps or plugs. I would also gap the plugs tight. I have mine about .023 gap.
Spraying 250 on a stock shortblock:
I sprayed 200 quite a few times with that set up in the picture on the stock short block. Went to 225 and broke the rear end (10 bolt). Put a 9" in it and started spraying 250 with the twin nozzles(which was maxing the solenoid out). The plugs always looked fine.
When I was looking at pistons for my build, I talked to one of mahle's techs. He said he wouldn't feel comfortable spraying more then 150shot on there pistons, They are made of a harder aluminum that is more prone to shattering then melting.
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I have heard that they are not the best for spray but I don't really plan on spraying more than a 150-200 shot anyhow so I was just asking the question to see if anyone has any experience with these pistons and nitrous.
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I am not exactly sure what the end gap is, my engine builder asked me if I had any plans to run nitrous before he gapped the rings and at the time I told him no soo....
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Ring Gap and the rings them selves. If you used the rings that came with the pistons i wouldnt go pushing it. 150 would be the highest. They are good rings just not for n20. Now if you have some better rings thats different. The reason they are breaking lands is because the rings. i just had this discussion with my engine builder, im running the mahle coated pistons and told him i was plannin on a 150 shot.
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Good info to know as my new build also has coated Mahle forged pistons, but I told my engine builder I was planning a 200 shot at the most so he changed my rings to Hellfire top and Total Seal second rings and increased the end gaps accordingly.
I would say 150-200Hp n2o won't be problem as long as you have it dyno tuned for the n2o. You will have to pull timing and run race fuel for anything over a 50 shot. But luckily these old LT1's are a little more forgiving then some.
