Piston suppliers with online specs?

[B19GRR]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find a set of pistons, I've got all the specs but the only online supplier/maker I can find that has any sort of search on their products is Accralite and I don't need forged pistons.

Anyone know of any decent sites or is my only option to have a word with an engine builder who'll have a catalogue?

BTW in case any of you have suitable catalogues, the specs are flat top, 88mm diameter, 37.5-38mm comp height and 21mm gudgeon diameter. Preferably fully floating gudgeon pin design I'd say.

Cheers,
Rob

[GavinPearson]

If you go to Ferraris Piston Service they should be able to let you loose with the catalogue - then you can order what you need.

[matt_t16]

www.ab-engine.ru/

E-mail for the attention of Demetri, he speaks good English.

Top place I get a lot of bits done there. Either give them specs and measurements or post an existing piston over.

Cheers
Matt

P.S. Altavista.com Babelfish may come in handy for the above

[v8 racing]

Whats the piston out of?? or is it a one of speicial you are building

[B19GRR]

Thanks Guys.

It's a one off special. Nissan L series 2.8 straight 6. Overbored +0.080" or 86mm -> 88mm in English The 37.5-38.1mm comp height will be if I stick with the stock crank and rods otherwise I'd need something like 32.5-34mm if I go with a stroker crank. I haven't quite decided on the final compression to go for yet or how many spondoolics I want to spend!

i've dropped Accralite an email anyway to see what sort of heart attack inducing figure they comeback with.

Cheers,
Rob

[B19GRR]

Hmmm, bugger. Accralite want £125+VAT each and won't have any suitable forgings for possibly 3 months. T'internet it truly failing me on this one

[Boosted LS1]

Thing is, that's not a bad price, unless you look to the USA you won't better it imho. Problem in some ways with accralite is they make the crowns huge to allow for final machining by you.

[B19GRR]

Boosted LS1 said:

Thing is, that's not a bad price, unless you look to the USA you won't better it imho. Problem in some ways with accralite is they make the crowns huge to allow for final machining by you.

Joy!

I specify the compression height and that they should be flat top in my email to accralite. Presumably if they are making up a set specifically to someones requirements then they should be machined as requested right?

I've also dropped Omega an email to see if they have anything close in their catalogue they could adapt.

I've certainly not got any problems look at US suppliers as long as they can deliver to the UK and in reasonable time. Do you have any recommended companies I could check out?

Now, any opinions on cast vs. forged considering I'm planning on around 10.5:1 compression. Not looking at revving over 7k though however I am considering a low boost supercharger in the future. I'd drop compression to around 9.5:1 by swapping in a thicker head gasket rather than swap out pistons again.

Cheers,
Rob

[GavinPearson]

Bear in mind that the Jaguar XJR-V8 4.0 supercharged engine used squeeze cast pistons and I think that for a road car you'll be OK with Cast pistons.

The key is selecting ones that keep the mass down AND don't have a split skirt feature.

I'd find a cast piston with a steel expansion control feature cast in, and have my final honing done for a 1.5 thou skirt to bore clearance at room temperature.

I'd also set the CR at 9.0 to 1 dead when you first build it.

[Boosted LS1]

You may be able to find a set of eutectics 'off the shelf'. This will save you having to go the custom route which is an absolute pain if you damage 1 piston.

Look at Ross, Arias, JE or Diamond in the US for forgings and Keith Black for Eutectics. Good pistons can also be found in Oz.

Off interest, how much are you expecting to pay for your pistons?

Dropping c/r via a thicker gasket isn't the best way to go. I'd also suggest a lower c/r as a base point. 9:1 would allow a low boost engine and be economical off boost.

[B19GRR]

Boosted LS1 said:

You may be able to find a set of eutectics 'off the shelf'. This will save you having to go the custom route which is an absolute pain if you damage 1 piston. Look at Ross, Arias, JE or Diamond in the US for forgings and Keith Black for Eutectics. Good pistons can also be found in Oz. Off interest, how much are you expecting to pay for your pistons? Dropping c/r via a thicker gasket isn't the best way to go. I'd also suggest a lower c/r as a base point. 9:1 would allow a low boost engine and be economical off boost.

Thanks for those makes, I'll check out their sites.

Price wise, well I guess UK source will go up to £125+VAT I'd imagine something like £50-70ea for cast pistons plus rings and pins. Seems like US pricing is much less. This guy does a set of 6 forged pistons with rings and pins for $599:
www.arizonazcar.com/piston.html
Shame they're not +2mm and slightly less comp height. At those sort of prices, even with postage and import duty they're a bargain.

Cheers,
Rob