Originally Posted by gregsdart
I have my name on a World aluminum block, and may buy new pistons to best match the combo. I talked to Ross pistons today and got some ideas. For sure what i want is .043 , .043, 3mm low tension rings, gas ports and skirt coatings. Ed at Ross suggested .200 wall pins from tool steel. This will be the same configuration, 550 cubes, 15/1 compression.
What piston brands are good, and any options i should consider?


Regardless of what Indy, World, etc. tell you, aluminum blocks make in the neighborhood of 2% less power, that can be lessened somewhat with a thinner more conforming ring pack. T/S #CS9934500 is a .9mm,.9mm,3.0mm ring set, the top ring is CrN coated, it'll last a very long time. Put the top ring .150" down on the piston, .200" 2nd land (no accumulator groove), and .100" 3rd land. Ask for .003" top ring back clearance, and add 16 .040" vertical gas ports .004" into the top ring groove back wall. Give your cylinder bore length to the piston company, and tell them that you DO NOT want the piston skirt hanging out of the bottom of your bore at BDC no more than .250". Put at least four .125" split oil drain backs at the top of both skirts, ask to have the piston COM balanced. There's only two skirt coatings worth considering, Calico's CT-3 or Line2Line's, if you choose Line2Line call Brian at Line2Line in SC, he'll get it right. Gap the top ring .020", 2nd ring .040", top oil rail .040, bottom oil rail as little as .012" if possible, if not that's fine. You've got a tall/heavy piston and a lot of piston speed going, so I'd say a .200" wall pin is minimum, I'd prefer .225" or more, C-350 is the best pin material, DLC coated if possible.