Piston installed backwords??

[Hittman55]

I have heard and read that in rb engine you can turn the pistons around backwords for a performance gain, Like 30 or so horses? Does this work I see know advantage unless it changes wrist pin location and rod angle. But is this a good idea? How about a daily driver? I would not wont strange noises coming from a new mill that i just spent $3000 bills that I dont have any way on. Hopefully i will have some feed back on this!

People who say size doesnt matter........have small engines!!!!!

[jelsr]

Stock pistons have the pin offset from center to keep noise down when the piston passes TDC. Installing them backwards lowers thrust against the cylinder wall and increases output along with increased noise (slap). Performance pistons are normally centered pinwise so they can be installed on either bank without compromise.

[mauve66]

if they are custom pistons with valve reliefs cut in them they will hit the vaLVES IF TURNED AROUND.....

[DartGT66]

You can still reverse them by chenging them in to other cylinder bank. however, most custom pistons do not have offset pins. I have used the reversing with stock style pistons and have found nothing wrong with it. However, I believe the possible power advantage is more likely 3 than 30 hp. It's still 3 hp though. And this is also true with small blocks or any others with offset pins.

[1972roadrunner]

i wouln't take the risk of turning the pistons backwards....at all...especially if they have two dips in them (for the valves, valve relief areas...) because then you would have broken valves, pistons, and your heads would be messed up. also, i don't see how you could possibly get a horsepower gain by just flipping the pistons around....

[Karl43]

The offset is also used to help reduce cylinder wear. It reduces some of the load off of the primary thrust surface.