What type of pistons should i get? :)

chickendreamer · 09-12-2002, 07:58 AM

Hi all, I was wondering type of pistons should i go with here on my 1995 mustang gt 302c.i. I am using edelbrock #6029 heads, E303 cam, stock lifters, stock pushrods, bored .030 over block, stock connecting rods and stock rocker arms. I am asking because with the edelbrock heads they have a 2.02 intake valve which requires notched pistons. Oh, i would like to go with roughly 9.5:1 compression ratio pistons.

Thanks for the info, if you have an more to add in info it would be appreciated!

WADS56 · 09-12-2002, 08:25 AM

This depends what you want out of your motor. Are you going to run a blower, or nitrous in the future? Is cost a factor? I like Hypers for a street motor. They are cheaper, and run tighter in the bore and can take a small poweradder if wanted.
Nothing but forged for me in a rece motor. They are stronger and you can add a big poweradder with them. The downsides are the cost, they have to run looser in the bore to make up for the expansion rate, some people get piston slap on a cold motor depending on the alloy of the pistons.

302 LX Eric · 09-12-2002, 08:44 AM

Good advice there from Wade.

As for brands, I've got Probe's Sportsman Race Series Pistons in my new 331. They've got the special valve relief for my TFS TW heads - I was really impressed with these pistons.

Other makers are JE, Diamond, Wiesco, etc.

E

bigblockcoupe · 09-12-2002, 09:36 AM

i always prefer a forged piston for reliability but if you never plan on using a power adder you can use a hyperutectic piston.

silver_pilate · 09-12-2002, 09:57 AM

Well, I'm running some Keith Black hypers right now @ 10:1. They are a good piston for street use if you plan on going N/A.

You can run a small shot of the squeeze without problems, however you need to make sure you gap the piston rings correctly. When I built the motor, I didn't ever plan on nitrous or a blower so I gapped them down small for better oil control. Turns out the gap I used is too small for the squeeze (according to my builder, tech articles on the pistons, and Keith Black themselves. I should have gapped 'em bigger to begin with, but hind-sight is 20/20.

Go ahead and spend the extra couple of 10-spots and get some forged pistons.

--nathan

chico · 09-12-2002, 05:08 PM

Hyperutectic are fine if you do not plan on major power adders...otherwise I recommend CP pistons, supposedly a lot of Nascar drivers are using them . My last motor is now running 8.3 CP,s ....recommended by Hamilton Clark Ind. out of Sac. Ca. They build nothing but Mustangs, Cobras, Ford Lightning's and Vipers.
So far have not had one blown motor they have set up..incul. 1200 hp lightning, 823rwhp Viper and one of their most recent ..a

33 rwhp Black Cobra coupe the just turned 10.2 @ 133mph.

chico · 09-12-2002, 05:10 PM

Correction; that is supposed to read 633 rwhp for the Cobra.

Alittle promotion for some damn good mrchanics....

Shelby428cj · 09-12-2002, 06:12 PM

Whoa chico you scared me there for a minute when I read the 33 rwhp!

Glad you meant 633 !!

See Ya,
Karen

Eric4Nitrous · 09-12-2002, 07:49 PM

I run Ross pistons in mine with great success. Great nitrous piston too

chickendreamer · 09-12-2002, 08:02 PM

Thats for the reply guys, i guess i should have made myself more clear with some of the info, it's not really the piston brand name I am worried about but more so I am worring about actual valve clearance, more specifically.. say if I switch to a F303 cam in the future I would like a bit of flexability in that way. Is any notched piston going to do the trick for me or is there certain specs I have to take into consideration?

Also I will be having a 75hp nitrous kit I will be adding. Allthough I would like to, a blower would be nice, but realistically I don't think I ever will add one since there very costly up here in canada.

Thanks again for the info guys, i really appreciate it.

Eric4Nitrous · 09-12-2002, 08:14 PM

no problems whatsoever with clearance if you decide to run a F cam. I know people who have it in a stock headed car and have no clearance problems at all.

andy669 · 09-12-2002, 08:24 PM

As far as brands go I like CP's also!

In fact, heres one of mine!

Andy

chickendreamer · 09-12-2002, 08:33 PM

So, any notched pistons will work with the larger 2.02 valves? I am asking because edelbrock says you need to run notched pistons with the 2.02 valves.

Thanks

andy669 · 09-12-2002, 09:05 PM

I wouldnt say that any notched piston will work, but I think that most of them would. Just as long as they are notched for the right size valves. Either way, you need to check PV clearance ALWAYS, and the pistons can be notched while they are in the block anyway.

Andy

chico · 09-12-2002, 09:52 PM

Beautiful piston....I'm running 14 lbs boost expecting 100,000 miles ,even raced every weekend..

09-12-2002, 07:58 AM	#1
chickendreamer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 53	What type of pistons should i get? :) Hi all, I was wondering type of pistons should i go with here on my 1995 mustang gt 302c.i. I am using edelbrock #6029 heads, E303 cam, stock lifters, stock pushrods, bored .030 over block, stock connecting rods and stock rocker arms. I am asking because with the edelbrock heads they have a 2.02 intake valve which requires notched pistons. Oh, i would like to go with roughly 9.5:1 compression ratio pistons. Thanks for the info, if you have an more to add in info it would be appreciated!

09-12-2002, 08:25 AM	#2
WADS56 gear banger Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: CHICAGO Posts: 1,144	This depends what you want out of your motor. Are you going to run a blower, or nitrous in the future? Is cost a factor? I like Hypers for a street motor. They are cheaper, and run tighter in the bore and can take a small poweradder if wanted. Nothing but forged for me in a rece motor. They are stronger and you can add a big poweradder with them. The downsides are the cost, they have to run looser in the bore to make up for the expansion rate, some people get piston slap on a cold motor depending on the alloy of the pistons. __________________ 79 Hatch: NA 347, Stage 2 Canfield Heads, Victor JR. Intake, Blueprinted Holley 750 HP, Solid Roller Cam, Shooting for 10's on motor 93 LX: Tremec, dual friction clutch, fms flywheel, Hedman shorties, O/R H-pipe Ricer hater's club member #49

09-12-2002, 08:44 AM	#3
302 LX Eric or '331 LX Eric' Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,142	Good advice there from Wade. As for brands, I've got Probe's Sportsman Race Series Pistons in my new 331. They've got the special valve relief for my TFS TW heads - I was really impressed with these pistons. Other makers are JE, Diamond, Wiesco, etc. E __________________ 1991 5.0 LX Coupe - 40,750 miles 331 cu. in. / Tremec 3550 / BFG Drag Radials 12.22 @ 114.31 mph - w/1.89 60'

09-12-2002, 09:36 AM	#4
bigblockcoupe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: broken arrow Posts: 212	i always prefer a forged piston for reliability but if you never plan on using a power adder you can use a hyperutectic piston. __________________ Rice Haters Club member #68 '93 Cobra 10.20@135 '89 Gt Coupe 12.20@115

09-12-2002, 09:57 AM	#5
silver_pilate DURKA DURKA!! Join Date: Sep 1997 Location: Lubbock, TX...(TX panhandle) Posts: 1,418	Well, I'm running some Keith Black hypers right now @ 10:1. They are a good piston for street use if you plan on going N/A. You can run a small shot of the squeeze without problems, however you need to make sure you gap the piston rings correctly. When I built the motor, I didn't ever plan on nitrous or a blower so I gapped them down small for better oil control. Turns out the gap I used is too small for the squeeze (according to my builder, tech articles on the pistons, and Keith Black themselves. I should have gapped 'em bigger to begin with, but hind-sight is 20/20. Go ahead and spend the extra couple of 10-spots and get some forged pistons. --nathan __________________ '91 GT, Coast 347, 9.5:1 compression, full intake, Wolverine 1087 cam, exhaust, Keith Craft ported Windsor Jr. Irons (235 cfm intake, 195 cfm exhaust), AOD, PI 3500 converter, Lentech valve body, 3.73's (4.10's in the works), and Yokohama ES100's out back. Daily Car: '04 Infiniti G35 Sedan 6MT

09-12-2002, 05:08 PM	#6
chico Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Manteca,Ca. Posts: 114	Pistons Hyperutectic are fine if you do not plan on major power adders...otherwise I recommend CP pistons, supposedly a lot of Nascar drivers are using them . My last motor is now running 8.3 CP,s ....recommended by Hamilton Clark Ind. out of Sac. Ca. They build nothing but Mustangs, Cobras, Ford Lightning's and Vipers. So far have not had one blown motor they have set up..incul. 1200 hp lightning, 823rwhp Viper and one of their most recent ..a 33 rwhp Black Cobra coupe the just turned 10.2 @ 133mph. __________________ 98 cobra convt. 515 rwhp 421 torque..554 rwhp on 98 octane..635 rwhp this summer

09-12-2002, 05:10 PM	#7
chico Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Manteca,Ca. Posts: 114	Pistons Correction; that is supposed to read 633 rwhp for the Cobra. Alittle promotion for some damn good mrchanics.... __________________ 98 cobra convt. 515 rwhp 421 torque..554 rwhp on 98 octane..635 rwhp this summer

09-12-2002, 06:12 PM	#8
Shelby428cj Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 510	Whoa chico you scared me there for a minute when I read the 33 rwhp! Glad you meant 633 !! See Ya, Karen __________________ Karen Wells, Moderator The Mustang Works Magazine http://www.mustangworks.com 1969 Mustang (Project Rice Eater) 1999 Silver Mustang Saleen S281 (SQ car for stereo contests) SQ Goddess My Stereo Bro "tireburner163"

09-12-2002, 07:49 PM	#9
Eric4Nitrous Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Va Posts: 1,122	I run Ross pistons in mine with great success. Great nitrous piston too __________________ 68 Camaro Gene Fulton 632ci Two stages of Jug 8.41 164mph Rockingham 1-26-03

09-12-2002, 08:02 PM	#10
chickendreamer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 53	Thats for the reply guys, i guess i should have made myself more clear with some of the info, it's not really the piston brand name I am worried about but more so I am worring about actual valve clearance, more specifically.. say if I switch to a F303 cam in the future I would like a bit of flexability in that way. Is any notched piston going to do the trick for me or is there certain specs I have to take into consideration? Also I will be having a 75hp nitrous kit I will be adding. Allthough I would like to, a blower would be nice, but realistically I don't think I ever will add one since there very costly up here in canada. Thanks again for the info guys, i really appreciate it.

09-12-2002, 08:14 PM	#11
Eric4Nitrous Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Va Posts: 1,122	no problems whatsoever with clearance if you decide to run a F cam. I know people who have it in a stock headed car and have no clearance problems at all. __________________ 68 Camaro Gene Fulton 632ci Two stages of Jug 8.41 164mph Rockingham 1-26-03

09-12-2002, 08:33 PM	#13
chickendreamer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 53	So, any notched pistons will work with the larger 2.02 valves? I am asking because edelbrock says you need to run notched pistons with the 2.02 valves. Thanks

09-12-2002, 09:05 PM	#14
andy669 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Moline Il Posts: 901	I wouldnt say that any notched piston will work, but I think that most of them would. Just as long as they are notched for the right size valves. Either way, you need to check PV clearance ALWAYS, and the pistons can be notched while they are in the block anyway. Andy __________________ 88 coupe 91 LX NMRA Pure Street 5120

09-12-2002, 09:52 PM	#15
chico Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Manteca,Ca. Posts: 114	Pistons Beautiful piston....I'm running 14 lbs boost expecting 100,000 miles ,even raced every weekend.. __________________ 98 cobra convt. 515 rwhp 421 torque..554 rwhp on 98 octane..635 rwhp this summer

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