[BLUE TA]

hi guys, Im going to build a 73 455 .030 over. been looking at prices and Icon seems to be the most reasonable. I was shocked to see auto-tec 1016.00 at shannons engineering. the Icons are 700.00 with rings at CE. I dont see sealed powers anymore. the 2359 030 doesnt seem to be available. what have you guys seen? thanks, BLUE TA

[Mike Davis]

SP 2369 has been discontinued. ICON, DSS, ROSS or JE....
I would check with KRE or Butler.

[steve25]

For my money the J&E pistons are my pick!
Yup there like 100 bucks each, but they’re aloy allows them to go in with only ,003” clearance so the skirts last longer, rings last longer and the motor is silent on cold start ups!

[tom s]

Might check with Paul K on this site.He is a Autotec dealer.My last 3 engine he helped me with.Tom

[BLUE TA]

thanks for the info guys. BLUE TA

[scott70]

Originally Posted by tom s

Might check with Paul K on this site.He is a Autotec dealer.My last 3 engine he helped me with.Tom

XX2

[TransAm400]

Yeah I would call and check on the Autotec’s. I paid alot less than that last year.

[i82much]

Originally Posted by steve25

For my money the J&E pistons are my pick!
Yup there like 100 bucks each, but they’re aloy allows them to go in with only ,003” clearance so the skirts last longer, rings last longer and the motor is silent on cold start ups!

i thought most forged pistons were either 2618 or 4032, with 4032 allowing tighter clearances. is there something else that J&E uses? any reason why a 4032 from another outfit wouldn’t have the same clearance requirements as J&E?

[i82much]

would these work?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...0/make/pontiac

[PontiacJim1959]

Check Spotts Performance. If the site is current, some good prices.

http://www.spottsperformance.com/Pistons

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by i82much

i thought most forged pistons were either 2618 or 4032, with 4032 allowing tighter clearances. is there something else that J&E uses? any reason why a 4032 from another outfit wouldn’t have the same clearance requirements as J&E?

There are some other factors that play into the manufacturer's piston to wall recommendations. Alloy is a major factor. Also the amount of cam shape ground into the skirts, the size and style of the expansion holes, the position of the ring pack and the ring dimensions. Finally, the length and contact area of the skirts. The BME web site has a lengthy discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of 2618 vs 4032 alloy. Bill Miller has a engineering degree with specialties in metallurgy, so I am confident in his views. The Readers Digest version is 2618 is more ductile and crack resistant, far superior in drastic pressure rise applications or detonation prone environments. Such as blown, high loads of nitrous and other very high HP applications. It does require more clearance than 4032. 4032 is a nice option for performance street, and mid-level racing applications. Quiet and easy on cylinder walls. In our Pontiac engines I read this as about 700-800 HP NA engines. Over that, or with a big power adder, I would tend to move into the 2618 alloy. FWIW.

[i82much]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

There are some other factors that play into the manufacturer's piston to wall recommendations. Alloy is a major factor. Also the amount of cam shape ground into the skirts, the size and style of the expansion holes, the position of the ring pack and the ring dimensions. Finally, the length and contact area of the skirts. The BME web site has a lengthy discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of 2618 vs 4032 alloy. Bill Miller has a engineering degree with specialties in metallurgy, so I am confident in his views. The Readers Digest version is 2618 is more ductile and crack resistant, far superior in drastic pressure rise applications or detonation prone environments. Such as blown, high loads of nitrous and other very high HP applications. It does require more clearance than 4032. 4032 is a nice option for performance street, and mid-level racing applications. Quiet and easy on cylinder walls. In our Pontiac engines I read this as about 700-800 HP NA engines. Over that, or with a big power adder, I would tend to move into the 2618 alloy. FWIW.

Very good info, thanks. I have 2618's in a mild 505 and wish I'd gone 4032, but didn't know there was a difference and thought any "forged piston" would be fine. Not a big problem but I can tell from the noise on cold starts that the 2618's will wear out quicker than something that can run less clearance.

[BLUE TA]

hi, thanks for all the knowledge and thoughts. BLUE TA

[Lee]

I don't know how much of a discount I actually get (I have an account), but I bought a set of custom dished AutoTec pistons a few months ago. With rings and shipping, they were MUCH less than $1,000!

[BLUE TA]

just checked again, 1016.00 so I called and the voice mail box was full couldnt leave a message. ????? it must be a mistake. or extreme covid inflation. BLUE TA

[GoatZillaRacing]

JE SRP Pistons $569 https://pontiacspeedshop.com/srp-pistons-1/

[BLUE TA]

thanks goatzilla, looks like 700.00 plus pistons and rings. BLUE TA

[Mike Davis]

Originally Posted by GoatZillaRacing

JE SRP Pistons $569 https://pontiacspeedshop.com/srp-pistons-1/

Good deal and a good guy to deal with!

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Lee

I don't know how much of a discount I actually get (I have an account), but I bought a set of custom dished AutoTec pistons a few months ago. With rings and shipping, they were MUCH less than $1,000!

Custom dished for an .030 400 is what I'm currently after. AutoTec 4032 with metric ring pack.
Was very impressed with previous AutoTec 455 pistons that I purchased for another project. Will call Paul K, tomorrow, don't do FakeBook!

[turbo69bird]

Run JEs in my turbo car. Been together at least 11 years probably more now without even changing a spark plug. I used to sell parts for ATVs at the race tracks and certain guys were destroying wiseco pistons regularly. I watched them for a bit and realized these guys would come out late for the LCQ fire up and rip down to the start line. I realized the looser tolerances required for expansion were really loose on cold start and these guys were beating the piston in the bore cold .
So I swapped them to a WSM watercraft piston w tighter tolerances .gold coated the top and polymoly on the sides these guys went from
Two months on a piston to 2 years! Shot myself in the foot couldn’t sell anymore
Pistons or top end kits. �� anyway if your running loose tolerances make sure you get that piston up to temp before beating that engine at all

My JE pistons are off the shelf nothing special no coatings

Oh yeah don’t do Fakebook or shhhitter either �� that’s as bad as taking a lonely and posting it there.