KB Pistons

[MarkR]

Hi I got a set of there claimer pistons given to me with rings on them. The top gap is .036 and the 2nd ring is .016, they are 5/64 rings. I am wondering if I should gap the new rings the same. It is a street strip application. No nitrous or any other power adders. I want to be confident as I can that the top won't come off the pistons. It is 10:1.

Any input is welcome.

[blue88]

Look on KB pistons site and follow instructions completely... Hypers require a greater first ring gap.

[af2]

While measuring check the pin offsets. You will see why they are "claimer pistons"

[MarkR]

I found out why they are claimer pistons I got looking a tlittle closer at them and three out of the eight the bottom ring land is cracked where the tab is in the land. It is my first build and have all the rings gapped to .030 already. Guess I'll learn the hard way on the pistons.

Does anyone know of a decent budget piston for the 400-500hp range? no nitrous.


Thanks

[MileHighMan]

I found out why they are claimer pistons I got looking a tlittle closer at them and three out of the eight the bottom ring land is cracked where the tab is in the land. It is my first build and have all the rings gapped to .030 already. Guess I'll learn the hard way on the pistons.

Does anyone know of a decent budget piston for the 400-500hp range? no nitrous.

You might call silvo-lite and see if you can buy just the three you need. Your gonna need to know the size and weight exactly. Your also gonna need a real safe tune up because those pistons will not take any detoation at all!!! Good Luck, Dan.
Thanks

[Nitrousknob]

Good luck calling united engine and machine (K-B pistons) I bought a real nice set of forged K-B pistons from Summit $410.00 They will match ebays pricing, better to deal with.

[k-star]

I found out why they are claimer pistons I got looking a tlittle closer at them and three out of the eight the bottom ring land is cracked where the tab is in the land. It is my first build and have all the rings gapped to .030 already. Guess I'll learn the hard way on the pistons.

Does anyone know of a decent budget piston for the 400-500hp range? no nitrous.


Thanks

Look into the Probe forged pistons.

Keith

[rfoll]

I have sucessfully run the speedpro stuff for years. $150 - $250 with rings from summit. Beat the snot out of them several different engines. They are a little heavy, do not hold up well with nitrous.

[fastvette]

I agree with Keith, check out the Probe pistons. I as well as others on here are WD with probe and can get them for you.

Randy

[trmnatr]

The Keith Black 2618 Premium Forged are descent pistons

I like Probe for off the shelf pistons, Their Sportsman Race Series (Probe) pistons are a killer piston. Round, light, good ring grooves, All you want from a piston

Pics are worth a million dollars so here are some pics

[Mark O'Neal]

I have sucessfully run the speedpro stuff for years. $150 - $250 with rings from summit. Beat the snot out of them several different engines. They are a little heavy, do not hold up well with nitrous.

Speed pro now manufactures in India...and reboxes some KB...it seems.

[rfoll]

I guess my point got lost here. I got the impression the original poster was on a budget. Using second hand stuff qualifies. Forged pistons can be had for reasonable prices, but starting at $450 for a Probe flat top does not mean budget to me. It is a very good price for an excellent quality forging. I have hundreds of passes on Speed Pro 345, H631, H615, H616. 6000+ RPM, 350-500 HP. I have switched them from one block to another, rebuilt several times, etc. Most would not consider these as race hardware, but they performed just fine. Summit sells the h345 set with moly rings for $165, the h616 set is $255. Pretty hard to beat for a novice or budget build.

[trmnatr]

I guess my point got lost here. I got the impression the original poster was on a budget. Using second hand stuff qualifies. Forged pistons can be had for reasonable prices, but starting at $450 for a Probe flat top does not mean budget to me. It is a very good price for an excellent quality forging. I have hundreds of passes on Speed Pro 345, H631, H615, H616. 6000+ RPM, 350-500 HP. I have switched them from one block to another, rebuilt several times, etc. Most would not consider these as race hardware, but they performed just fine. Summit sells the h345 set with moly rings for $165, the h616 set is $255. Pretty hard to beat for a novice or budget build.

BS

Your looking at the wrong part numbers

Probe has a killer line of street/strip race pistons out to compete with all the cheaper pistons, and its a bad azz piston at that.

There are several small block part numbers, they are 4032 which from my understanding is better than TRW's VMS75 Alloy and wear shows this to be true that 4032 is better than VMS75 (ALOT of this is in the Skirt Design too)

Here is the 383 Probe 4032 piston
http://www.probeindustries.com/Chevy_38 ... p3836f.htm

$385.99 @ Coast High Performance
http://www.coasthigh.com/Chevy-383-4-0c ... p3836f.htm

The set of flat tops I posted where you can see the two valve notchs, that is a P3501F-030
http://www.probeindustries.com/Chevy_35 ... p3501f.htm

[trmnatr]

I have sucessfully run the speedpro stuff for years. $150 - $250 with rings from summit. Beat the snot out of them several different engines. They are a little heavy, do not hold up well with nitrous.

Speed pro now manufactures in India...and reboxes some KB...it seems.

And they are all over the place in terms of sizing and some look second hand

[rfoll]

trmnatr,
There is only one part number for a flat top 400 with a 5.7 rod. $496 at coast, plus the price of rings. The three hundred dollar difference between them and the h616 I used 6 years ago was enough to decide whether or not I could race. Some people just do not have the money. Were I in business, I would not build with this stuff and guarantee it, but it served it's purpose, and the motor is still alive and healthy.