I was looking at the pistons that TA sells for the 430(TA1606 for $285) and is this price per piston for for a set of 8? That price per piston would sure wreck my budjet in a hurry on a rebuild and that price for all 8 seems like too good of a deal. I recently picked up a 68 riv to use as a pars donor for the 69 riv gs that I'm restoring and I plan on using the drivetrain in the 68 to put in a 83 camaro I have that is w/o a drivetrain. But when I start the 68 430 there is some rpm related clicking that makes me think the lifters are going bad and there is a pretty steady air pulse and smoke coming from the PCV grommet and oil filler cap which makes me think the ring to cylinder seal is less than good. So I guess it'd be good to go through a 430 rebuild before the camaro gets a good solid drivetrain.
Alright, that's good. And even though this engine is seemingly worn out it still gets 30psi oil pressure at idle and moves up as rpm increase so I guess it's not totally wrecked. It the odometer on the car is correct it has about 120,000 miles.
if you think under 300 is a deal for cast pistons, next time you're at the parts store ask for some chevy pistons...they'll hand you forged aluminum over the counter for about 35 bucks a pop if i remember right.
I'm just used to the price I'd need to pay for custom forged aluminum pistons for the turbo engine I wanted to build up for my other camaro; more like $100 per...
