[gtofreek]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

I thought only some factory, and some 'cheap' replacement pistons had 4 reliefs? My Ross don't have 4, that's for sure. Hm, I haven't used any TRWs lately, can't remember if the 'L's' have 4 or not. If it does have 4, they can be used on either side, and if it's a press pin, it can be offset to either side, right?

i've seen factory rods that have the slight offset you speak of, but it's always been to the correct side regarding the chamfer on the ones that I recall. Aftermarket rods don't have this offset, or at least the Crower Billets and Eagles I've seen don't. Anyway, your saying they would bind against each other if the offsets face together?

OK, let me clarify. The pictures I saw in the presentation were stock Pontiac rods and pistons. Most ALL Pontiacs have 4 valve reliefs[ever taken apart a 301,326,350,389,400,421,428,455? They all have them. The only Pontiac I have personally seen without 4 valve reliefs is the SD-455 which has 1 valve trough. Ross pistons and expensive forged aftermarket pistons have only 2 valve reliefs because they are trying to keep compression up and plus they probably figure since your spending a lot on pistons, they may as well make them better for performance. Yes, the TRW "L"'s have 4 reliefs. Besides how many valve reliefs the piston has is meaningless in this thread as long as they are oriented correctly on the rod. With 4 valve reliefs the manufacturer only needs to make 1 piston for 1 engine. With intake and ex. valve reliefs cut into the piston with a pin offset, the manufacturer needs to make 4 different pistons for 1 engine.

You need to take another look at your aftermarket rods. THEY ARE OFFSET! Almost ALL V-8 rods are OFFSET! They have to be or the small end will be up against one side of the piston[cocking the piston in it's bore in severe cases] and you will have little to no rod side clearence. Inline engine rods are centered. V engine rods are offset. Some may only be offset by .060" or so but they are still offset.

Think about what you said;
"i've seen factory rods that have the slight offset you speak of, but it's always been to the correct side regarding the chamfer on the ones that I recall. Aftermarket rods don't have this offset, or at least the Crower Billets and Eagles I've seen don't."
Now I ask you this; if the factory rods were offset, how in the world would an aftermarket rod work if it were not offset? Answer, IT WON'T!