What's the most amount of abuse any of you guys have dished out to your 350 - while using the hyper. pistons?? I know running them lean or in detonation is a SERIOUS no-no. Just curious to see what power levels have been hit with these pistons. Thanks.
I have used hypereutectic pistons in several 350 Buicks and lots of 455's. I've even used them in turbo v-6's with 20 plus pounds of boost. I have only had 1 failure of one of these pistons in the v-8 application , probably some 11 years ago, and it was caused by detonation. I have built 455's with right at 500 horsepower with these pistons. I've had a few turbo v-6 Buicks burn some of these pistons, but when you go lean at 24 pounds of boost, something is going to give, I've seen the same thing with the forged pistons in this application as well. Jim Burek P.A.E. ENTERPRISES
Thanks Guys, That's what I was looking for. I guess as long as they don't get leaned out or detonate, they should be fine! Jim - What piston to wall clearance do you prefer? I've heard 1.5 - 2 thou. Thanks for the input!:TU:
Anyone use the 350 Sterling cast pistons??? I picked up a set of them from Summit something like 7 yrs ago for about $8 dollars a piston...I know they are a low compression piston, but just wondering if they are okay to use for a stock build(nothing high hp, just a basic rebuild w/a TA C110 cam)...The motor is going to go into an 86 Toyota 4x4 pickup...
The stock 70 GS 350 used cast pistons and was fine - 315hp and 410ft/lbs. I think you'll be fine with those. A friend of mine used some Zollner cast pistons in his Street Stock (circle track) engine. Beat on that motor for 2 years before freshening up - everything looked like it had fired last week. Re-ringed the motor and freshened up the valve job - good to go! He was running about 420hp (Chevy 355). If you don't already have a cam, check out the TA 212 cam. Should give you a hair more power with a better idle (smaller duration #'s @.050 and 112 LC). Just a thought. Sounds like an interesting project there!
Nope, I've even run them at .003.. The piston can be run tight because it does not expand as much as a regular piston, that's the theory. I'm a firm believer that a little loose is better than a little tight. I've never seen a piston stick in a bore because it was a little too loose, I have seen a piston stick in the bore because it was a little too tight. Jim Burek
