Need 440 standard bore forged 10:1 pistons that don't cost a fortune!

[69Coronet4evr]

Need some help here please!!

I'm putting my truck engine back together. Nothing wild, just a plain jane 440 (77 block), will be running the .455 MP cam and a performer intake with headers...

This is strictly a work truck motor, not for racing, but I need pulling power. I want a set of decent forged 10:1 pistons, but my block doesn't need boring (standard bore 4.32). All I've been able to find so far is Sealed Power pistons, but they want $800 damn dollars for them!

The engine will NEVER see the high side of 5000 rpm, and only occaisionally see the high side of 4000 rpm, I repeat, not a race motor.

I was even going to give up and bore the block +.030 and use the MP 9:1 (cast, yuk!) pistons, BUT MOPAR HAS DISCONTINUED THEM!!!

I'm really getting frustrated about this whole thing, my truck's been down for over a month, and my machinist has been waiting for 2 weeks to bore or not bore my block, if I can ever get a set of #@*^! pistons!!!

Could sure use some help guys (and girls?)! Sorry for the rant, but it's not like I'm building a stroker or anything, this should be easy.

[345Dart]

Give Diamond racing a call - see directory. Good pistons and as good a price as you will get in a forged piston. May want to check Silvolite pistons by KB. They may be cast but itd the only ones my machinist will use, if not using forged. He says stay away from Hyperutectic.

[Windsor377]

The KB Silvolites are hypereutectic. Very good street pistons. Light weight and a lot of "forged" strength characteristics. Won't take nitrous quite as well as forged.

Back when we did a lot of street engines, we could call the folks at KB for help on custom psitons. They could usually find a blank that was close and do the rest from there for about next to nothing. It's been a few years, but as I recall, the only thing I would want too improve would be able to go less than 1/16 on the 1st two rings and a small oil control. Maybe they offer that now.

[69Coronet4evr]

Thanks for the responses. I was not very keen on the KB pistons at first, but with all the hassles I've had, I called and got a price for them....$520 seems too high to me for cast pistons. Yes I know they are "different", but to this old mopar guy, "cast is as cast does". They did offer a 10:1 in a standard bore, but for "cast" I think they are too expensive. Must be because they have "KB" on the package?

Granted I've not had to build a motor in a long time, but the sticker shock (!!) of piston prices, along with the lack of choices is a little surprising to me.

I will look up "Diamond", thanks.

Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

[J-440]

69, check out Summit for some cast pistons. Usually around 17-20$ a piece. Cast pistons are not that high-tech so Sealed, Keith Black, Diamond, etc. should all be around the same price. Perfect for what you are looking for.


J-440

[charger_dan]

In a typical 440 w/stock dimensions, you need a piston with a compression
height of around 2.05" to get in the 10:1 compression ratio area.
NOBODY makes a cast piston with this comp. ht.
The factory did - I have no idea why the aftermarket currently doesn't.
(hopefully, someone will pop up and prove the above statement wrong)


69Coronet, possible piston choices from Summit's website:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRW/SpeedPro #L2355 Forged Piston
Comp. ratio: approx. 9.4:1 CR w/88CC chamber
PRO: tough forging
CON: heavier than hell
COST: $344/set
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keith Black/SilvOLite Hypereutectic Cast Piston #KB184030
Comp. ratio:
10.4:1 (72cc heads)
9.7:1 (80cc heads)
9.3:1 (85cc heads)
8.9:1 (90cc heads)
PRO: plenty tough for street engine
CON: ??
COST: $284/set
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keith Black/SilvOLite Hypereutectic Cast Piston #KB236
Comp. ratio:
11.9:1 (72cc heads)
10.9:1 (80cc heads)
10.5:1 (85cc heads)
9.9:1 (90cc heads)
COST: $283/set
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Summit's website doesn't list the above pistons in std. bore. Give 'em a call.
Considering what's available in std. cast pistons, and the fact that you really don't
need a forged piston, I'd check into the KB's. You'll be hard pressed to find
a forged piston in the sub-$300 price range.

......... D A N

[69Coronet4evr]

Hey Charger d,

That forged TRW is exactly what I was looking for, thanks! I was getting my prices from a machinist in Glendale that was recommended to me by a "friend of a friend". It is obvious to me now that he was violently raping me on the piston prices. That $344 price is what I was expecting, he quoted me $700-800 for that very piston. The KB pistons he quoted me $520 for. That's for a box of pistons guys, not installed!!

He's already done my heads, I'm sure I got raped on those, too. I don't think I want to know how bad....if he's DOUBLING the price on the pistons, I'm sure his head job price was fair!

I'm looking over the Summit website now. Many thanks!

This site kicks ass.

[hedgehog]

Hey, i have a set of sealed power @ .030" with 200 miles on them. I'll check the part number but they are 9:1's i believe if you are interested.

[69Coronet4evr]

Just got off the phone with Summit. Ordered the L2355+.030's and ring set for $413.36 shipped!!

They'll be here in a couple of days! Thanks for all the help guys, I should have asked you all from the beginning. Man I love this site!

[mopower440]

DAMN!!! I wish i would have seen this post earlier, there is a guy over on moparts.com in the engine parts for sale section selling 2 brand new sets of L2355f's for 300.00 a set, one set is .030 and one is .060. CRAP!!

[6 packin]

I just done a thread a few days ago, on Probe pistons, reccomended by my machinest. There a TRW piston with better qaulity and uses race style 1/16 rings for the same cost, they were a little over $300 I will bump the thread, so you can check them out.