Forged Pistons?
Author
Discussion

iacs_hsv

Original Poster:

167 posts

253 months

Saturday 27th December 2008
quotequote all
Anyone do me a good deal on a set of forged pistons (98.9 LS1)?

stevieturbo

17,967 posts

270 months

Saturday 27th December 2008
quotequote all
iacs_hsv said:
Anyone do me a good deal on a set of forged pistons (98.9 LS1)?
Factory bore size is 3.898" ie 99.01mm

And for what application ? what size dish ?

I know Dave from Performance Unlimited In York can get custom JE pistons made at sensible prices.

iacs_hsv

Original Poster:

167 posts

253 months

Saturday 27th December 2008
quotequote all
Thanks Stevie, piston OD quoted. NA so was planning valve reliefs with between 0 and +6cc to lift CR a little...

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

283 months

Monday 29th December 2008
quotequote all
You may be able to buy a set of mahle's off the shelf if you look around. Good alloy and will save a wait. Diamond should have 'shelf' stock as well as will Ross.

stevieturbo

17,967 posts

270 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
Check out LS1Tech...some of the sponsors there would have something in stock Im sure.


Although TBH, if changing pistons. I'd be inclined to do rods too.

No..they arent really needed....but switching to rods with a 0.927" pin, will open up a huge range of off the shelf pistons.
There are far less available for the standard 0.944" pin, plus they are a press fit onto the rod.

iacs_hsv

Original Poster:

167 posts

253 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
The problem seems to be getting hold of some to suit 3.898". I've found some Mahle's in the US but I was hoping to buy in the UK due to poor GBP/USD and usual delays... (BTW, these have 0.945 pins so I can keep my stock rods)

Edited by iacs_hsv on Tuesday 30th December 03:46

drew9781vuss

2,683 posts

207 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
Try buying them from aus as ive just ordered a new bonnet new suspension and a complete pacemaker exhaust and it was great value for euro to aud try chris mills performance in perth western australia every thing u need he has at a good price or jhp vehicle enhancments they are both on the net

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

283 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
Iirc Mahle is now owned by ACL (Melbourne OZ). I used to find ACL Oz very helpful so you may be able to source pistons via them.

iacs_hsv

Original Poster:

167 posts

253 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
Will check this out - thanks gents

stevieturbo

17,967 posts

270 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
iacs_hsv said:
The problem seems to be getting hold of some to suit 3.898". I've found some Mahle's in the US but I was hoping to buy in the UK due to poor GBP/USD and usual delays... (BTW, these have 0.945 pins so I can keep my stock rods)

Edited by iacs_hsv on Tuesday 30th December 03:46
As I said.

Dave from Performance Unlimited in York will be able to get you anything you want via JE, and they make some of the best pistons.

01904489332

Will probably take 3-4 weeks to have made unless they have off the shelf stuff.

Ive bought a couple of sets and other bits from him, and the service from Dave has been second to none.

Although he might be more inclined to steer you towards a set of pistons, and having the block honed to ensure tolerances are 100%.
Speak to him anyway.
He is very particular.

Edited by stevieturbo on Tuesday 30th December 18:14

MyM8V8

9,468 posts

218 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
drew9781vuss said:
Try buying them from aus as ive just ordered a new bonnet new suspension and a complete pacemaker exhaust and it was great value for euro to aud try chris mills performance in perth western australia every thing u need he has at a good price or jhp vehicle enhancments they are both on the net
JHP seem very expensive for just about everything they do.

iacs_hsv

Original Poster:

167 posts

253 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Dave from Performance Unlimited in York will be able to get you anything you want via JE, and they make some of the best pistons.
I did speak to Dave; however, JE only appear to list pistons starting at 3.905, not the 3.898 items I'm after.

stevieturbo

17,967 posts

270 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
iacs_hsv said:
stevieturbo said:
Dave from Performance Unlimited in York will be able to get you anything you want via JE, and they make some of the best pistons.
I did speak to Dave; however, JE only appear to list pistons starting at 3.905, not the 3.898 items I'm after.
They can make ANY size.

MyM8V8

9,468 posts

218 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
I used to use Wiseco's in my Big Blocks. They were custom made, and bloody good pistons too. Try Peter Knight, he seems to be able to get stuff in quite quick.

Edited by MyM8V8 on Tuesday 30th December 19:29

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

283 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
iacs_hsv said:
stevieturbo said:
Dave from Performance Unlimited in York will be able to get you anything you want via JE, and they make some of the best pistons.
I did speak to Dave; however, JE only appear to list pistons starting at 3.905, not the 3.898 items I'm after.
This is to cater for worn bores in need of a hone ie it's a bigger market for them. Maybe your bores could do with a hone anyway? Custom pistons will take about 8 weeks plus delays so I'd keep looking for 'off the shelf' and in a box.

stevieturbo

17,967 posts

270 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
Boosted LS1 said:
iacs_hsv said:
stevieturbo said:
Dave from Performance Unlimited in York will be able to get you anything you want via JE, and they make some of the best pistons.
I did speak to Dave; however, JE only appear to list pistons starting at 3.905, not the 3.898 items I'm after.
This is to cater for worn bores in need of a hone ie it's a bigger market for them. Maybe your bores could do with a hone anyway? Custom pistons will take about 8 weeks plus delays so I'd keep looking for 'off the shelf' and in a box.
Dave had my first custom set in 4 weeks, and when I needed a further four rolleyes he had them in 3 weeks.

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

283 months

Tuesday 30th December 2008
quotequote all
My experiences with JE were less then satisfactory. The product on the whole was good although one piston was missing a circlip groove and another was 6 grams lighter then the other 7! I had to lighten 7 pistons, feckwits! The supplied info said they all weighed the same, well they were the same until they machined a groove under the pin boss of number 8 to clear the crank trigger wheel. The service was truly dire so I won't go back there unless it's essential.

I have to say that Dave gives excellent service or did the only time I've dealt with him.

monkfish1

12,244 posts

247 months

Wednesday 31st December 2008
quotequote all
iacs_hsv said:
Anyone do me a good deal on a set of forged pistons (98.9 LS1)?


I "think" i have some but they are dished so reduced compression. They are at work so i will need to check but i think they were stock bore size.

stevieturbo

17,967 posts

270 months

Wednesday 31st December 2008
quotequote all
I defo have some used Mahle's in std bore size. Again...dished, but also to suit the 0.927" rod


End of the day, unless you get a custom set made in the UK ( is it Arias or Accralite ?? ) then the chances of anyone in the UK keeping stock of what you want, is very slim indeed.

Ive had good dealings with Erik Koenig in the past ( HK Racing Engines ) or Ron at Vengeance Racing.

Ron definately helped big time when I needed heads, and he got them to me asap.

Or any of the sponsors on LS1Tech are worth a phone call, as lots of them will carry stock, or be able to source very quickly and ship direct.
Dont rely on weblistings though, you need to speak to them.