Larry,
It appears you have the "cheaper is better" outlook. If you had any idea how many burned pistons, cracked heads, broken rings, turned rod bearings... on and on... that come from the "just as good only cheaper" mentality, you wouldn't be so quick to erroneously call me "out". One of my most important "jobs" is cleaning up messes behind other "builders". BTW, the guy that shoves the pistons in the hole may or may not be the "builder". An engine builder's job is to do all the math, all the machine work, selecting the correct combination of pieces and POSSIBLY assembly. If all you did was put it toether, you are the "assembler". The word "builder" encompasses a LOT more than assembly.
Nowhere did I say anything about "custom" pistons. The Speed Pro (TRW) forgings are quite thick in the head, and are a very good candidate for such a build. A "simple dish", turned into them on a lathe, is more than adequate to reduce compression. There are no GOOD hyper-eutectic pistons available for the Pontiac. The KBs are marginal, at best. We've had no experience yet with the KB forgings. They are significantly more money than the Speed Pro. The hyper-eutectic pistons sold by Sealed Power/Speed Pro are FAR superior to the KBs. We use them in the lower level circle track engines. Unfortunately, SP doesn't offer them for the Pontiac. Cast pistons are fine for a driver. Most here are looking for improved performance, which you cannot get from that 8-relief piston. Flame propegation is out to lunch. Detonation or a lean condition will cook them in a heartbeat.
Several of our customers will argue with you over the effectiveness of an XE grind in a sub-8:1 engine. If you're still hung up on the LSA, you need to study a bit more. Comp specifically says you cannot compare older designs to the modern ones using the conventional "numbers". Other builders have tried to alter the XE approach without the desired results. And, if you've never used one, isn't it a bit presumptious to say they "suck"?
When talking about a 10:1 ANY SIZE Pontiac, detonation WILL occur if the proper octane is not used. This is why we recommend lowering the compression.
We build Pontiac engines from "stock" to TA/FC. The winner of "The People's Choice" award at last year's GTOAA Nationals had one of our "resto" engines. Stock as a rock! (Oh, except the lowered compression and the XE262H...) About 1/2 of our engines are restorations or mild street. Pidgeon-holing us as "Brand name" "expensive is better" clearly illustrates you don't know anything about us or our shop. Not EVERYONE bases their engine build on how "cheap" it is. Most want quality, which, for the most part, cannot be "had" based strictly on price. ("quality" is defined as "meets the requirements for the application", not "expensive is better")
My purpose in posting on sites like this one are not to promote any one brand, shop, etc. It's to provide ACCURATE and CURRENT information. This hobby (it IS a hobby, you know) is loaded with myth and superstition, and arm-chair professionals. Two statements we hear all the time that cause us AND our customers grief are "just as good, only cheaper" or "the same as".... For the most part (if you are a decent "shopper"), you get what you pay for.
PAX
Jim
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