[elohssa]

Hi guy's, I currently have a 455 that's set up with eagle press fit rods and trw forged pistons, But after tearing it down the other day I have found some fairly deep scratches in the cylinder walls, Soooo It looks like it is time for an overbore and new pistons. I have been thinking of getting some srp forged units that I have seen for a reasonable price but I believe they are for a floating pin setup, So my question is can my Eagle press fit rods be modified to work with these pistons and if so what is involved? Also what is the general opinion on the Kieth Black hypereutectic slugs? They seem to be about half the price of the srp's. The engine should make around the 400-450hp range and will mostly be used in roadracing and some street use.

[elohssa]

Hi guy's, I currently have a 455 that's set up with eagle press fit rods and trw forged pistons, But after tearing it down the other day I have found some fairly deep scratches in the cylinder walls, Soooo It looks like it is time for an overbore and new pistons. I have been thinking of getting some srp forged units that I have seen for a reasonable price but I believe they are for a floating pin setup, So my question is can my Eagle press fit rods be modified to work with these pistons and if so what is involved? Also what is the general opinion on the Kieth Black hypereutectic slugs? They seem to be about half the price of the srp's. The engine should make around the 400-450hp range and will mostly be used in roadracing and some street use.

[Jack Gifford]

Yes, your rods can be modified for floating pins. I like bronze bushings, but others claim success without a bushing. Either way, it's not terribly expensive.
I've got KB hypereutectics, but haven't run it yet. As I recall, KB says they're okay to 450HP. And with a 455, I'm guessing you won't be zinging it to 7,000RPM or anything, will you?
I'm hoping to see the benefits of the close skirt-to-wall clearances, about .0025" in my case.

[68lemans462]

The dude has custom light forged pistons for very good prices:

http://www.pontiacdude.cc/

[Junkyard Dog]

I have the same rods - going with Dude's BRC pistons for press fit rod.

There are people running some very fast times with press fit . . .

Hopefully I will be one of them sometime soon.

[Mr. P-Body]

Eagle supplies the correct bushing if you really feel the need to upgrade. A competent machine shop that has rod "boring" capability is required.
It's true, some have had success "floating" the pins directly on the steel. Not a good idea. Two like-type metals rubbing in such a fashion invites galling (material transfer from one surface to the other). That can lock the pin in the rod, rendering the "float" useless.
We use press-fit rods in most applications (where available) for engines operating under 6,500 RPM. That includes many small block Chevys for lower-level circle track, and they have no issues.
One word of caution: if using the press-fit, be certain the pins are up to the task. The "good" (light) pins for floaters aren't as strong as the heavier ones. In many cases, Ross recommends the cheaper/heavier pins for longevity.

[74t/a]

P-body is right about not using a floating pin in a steel rod without a bushing. Every engine that has come into the shop here with that type of set-up, the pin has galled in the rod. The only exception I know of is the L88 427 chevy that had the small end coated with tin or something like that.

I would not hesitate to run a press pin. The pins for the press fit applications usually have a strengthening rib on the inside center of the pin.

I pin-fit the pistons to have .001 clearance in a press fit piston......that is for most performance applications. It would be less in a bone stock engine.