Finally got my car in good shape again. Now im in the mood to talk potential.

Just for future references what Hyper’s or Forged Pistons would be a good bang for your buck?

Car is stock for now. Cam, spring, rocker swap will be here within a few weeks. (Yes you guys have heard that one too many times, then never ever hear about that build ever again) Wondering how strong these stock hyper's will last with spray 100-175 shot + custom spec cam while being a DD or if I should be on the safe side and get a set of new Speed Pro Hypers, or a great bang for buck Forged Pistons. Yes tune, recondition, balancing will be insurmountable factors. Just figured that maybe the stock pistons have lost some strength since they rolled off the assembly line. Wont know how good of shape they are until we pull the heads.

After thinking, research, study, and gambling I wouldnt be resentful if I’d needed to spin 6600+ to make adequate power. Cam ill be shooting for 330 to the wheel & + whatever shot is recommended with cam im suggested. Budget will be around 7k and then some. Finally excited to get the LT back in strong shape

 

If u have 7k to spend get a set of forged rods and forged pistons with the stock crank. Call LE or AI and get a set of ported heads and a cam speced by them and build a sweet little 355 and not have to worry about the rod capabilities of the stockers. I don't have much more than that in my 385 AI H/C/I setup. All 4340 forged and spraying 200 on a LT1 intake. It's on it's third season and still going strong.

 

Don't kid yourself thinking it's an "upgrade" to go from the stock hyper pistons to ANY aftermarket hyper.
If you're buying pistons, it would be foolish to not go forged!
With your modest hp goals, the stock pistons will be fine AS LONG AS IT'S TUNED BY SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS NITROUS AND THE FUEL SUPPLY IS UP TO SNUFF!

 

Very good advice.

 

Well with confidence in terms of the bottom end, trusting the bottom end, reconditioning, balancing, all the supporting goods wouldnt it make more sense to spend the money that I would with a forged bottom end on an even better top end & tune? I do however agree that forged means less loss of sleep. I just kinda am the guy that likes to know how big the limits are on a risk.

Thanks Bow tie for the insight on pistons. Im still debating on what set-up would be more suitable for my goals at first. An LT1 worth being a DD, while adequate enough to take the abuse, at the same rate being able to be worth anything against mild to mid set-up 11 second street cars.

 

with a 7k budget you can get pretty much a top of the line top end and forged internals. Or you can put an expensive top end kit on and have a time bomb. Not to say that it wont last, as these motors do take a fair bit of nitrous quite well. But Eagle makes a good set of affordable h beam rods, and imho forged pistons are a must if you're going in the motor

with a hyper, you screw up one single time and it could be game over. with a forged slug, your margin for error is much more forgiving

You'd be foolish to bother rebuilding a motor with hypers if you want it to last, cause youre only going to want more after so long and you'll have to clinch your teeth everytime you spray