440 piston recommendations

[72Fury]

The 440 is at the machine shop & I'm looking for a set of pistons. Flat top, forged. Any brands or or recommendations?

 

[RemCharger]

Is there a performance goal? The sealed power "six pack" piston is a good choice for power in a pump gas build.

 

[BIGBARNEYCARS]

TRWs are good too. One thing you can depend on with those iz that when you go with their forged flat top .030 over pistons, TRW moves the wrist pin height in their pistons to keep you at Aproxamently 9.5 to 1. Unless you have a cheep sourse for Av-gas or turbo blue you really don't want to go over 10.0 to 1 and use hardened valve seats on the exhaust side.

 

[72Fury]

Yes, looking for around 10:1 compression, and set up for floating pins, .030 over. 450-500 hp range? Keith Black had some that were coated on the skirts, I don't know if that was a big plus or not.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Why floating pins did you get aftermarket rods? The lightest piston you can get and unless you are decking a lot the compression height needs to be up in the 2+ inch range all the 1.9 whatevers will put you down .100 in the hole on most stock blocks.

 

[72Fury]

Why floating pins did you get aftermarket rods? The lightest piston you can get and unless you are decking a lot the compression height needs to be up in the 2+ inch range all the 1.9 whatevers will put you down .100 in the hole on most stock blocks.

Not yet, but I was thinking about aftermarket rods. New bolts & machine shop labor seems to be about the same money.

 

[flyinbrick68]

I went w a set of kb icons initial quality looks good upon initial inspection well see how they work.

 

[moper]

Icons are a good choice.

 

[72Fury]

Any thoughts about this set? Press pins, yes on these. 440source has some forged rods with 7/16 bolts that I also thought about for the press pin piston.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Speed-Pro-T...Parts_Accessories&hash=item58aadb17f6&vxp=mtr

 

[moper]

Keep an eye on weights. The cheaper lower tech forged are just really heavy and will not do much more for you because they are usually too short to really make mouch of a compression increase. Plus - they may be heavier which means more $$ to properly balance the lower end. (Any time a piston design is changed the asembly should be rebalanced) In the big picture, if you need a forged piston - get a better quality one. You can either have your rods bushed when they are resized, or I have also heard of guys honing the pin end running the floating piston on the rod with no bushing. If you need compression, get a hypereutectic piston that will give you more strength, more compression, and a good valve relief and be lighter than anything else you can find and cost 1/2 of a good forged. You only need to have the machinist follow the recommendations of the hyper piston manufacturer as far as wall clearance and piston ring end gaps.

 

[72Fury]

The weight was a great tip. Many don't (wont) mention the weights in the adds. The piston I mentioned early actually weighs MORE than the stock one. UGH! I ended up going with a set of Mahles, around 613 grams each.

 

[72Fury]

I picked out the rods. I got them from the 440 source. What is really cool is the machinist chart notes on each rod, 752 grams each.

 

[1978 NYB]

What heads are you using? 452's or 915's or aluminum?

 

[72Fury]

What heads are you using? 452's or 915's or aluminum?

None yet. I have the 346 & thought about using them. New valves, springs, roller rockers would be the plan. I gave serious thought to the aluminum heads, but on a police car build, I don't know. Does anyone sell upgraded cast heads? I'm open for suggestions.

 

[1978 NYB]

For a police build I would use a rebuilt set of 452's.

 

[moper]

You're best bet is a factory head, redone properly with good parts. Have the unleaded seats done, have the spring seats cut for dual springs and the guides replaced or trimmed for the positive seals. They'll make plenty of steam for you without breaking the bank.

 

[commando1]

For a police build I would use a rebuilt set of 452's.

What he said...

 

[tallhair]

I have several sets of heads ... several 906's and I'm pretty sure a set of 452s. Parts are near Salem, IL

I'll be there tomorrow if you want me to take a look.

They'll need a rebuild of course

Shoot me a PM if interested

 

[has2bmopar]

It has been some time ago, but I recall the 346s to be very little different than the 452s, and they will already have hardened exhaust seats also.

The 346s bridged the brief gap between the 906 and the 452. I have a set on the '68 440 in my '74 Power Wagon. I believe the heads were coincidentally from a '74 440 also.

I would do a little research before you give up on what you already have in your possession.

 

[has2bmopar]

Also when figuring your compression height, note that your 440Source (China) rods are 6.760" in length vs the stock 6.768".