Finally a quality lightweight modern forged piston with valve reliefs for a stock stroke 383 or 400.100% American made.A true custom piston at shelf price.Comp dist will allow a zero deck @ 9.980 block height.A tall version for quench with open chamber cyl hds is being considered also.Any ring package is available.Many other options are available including high comp and alloy type. Rebalancing is mandatory due to the lighter weight. Price will be way below custom pistons.

The 64 thousand dollar question? Is there a market? Please respond with your comments either here or pm me.Mods please consider moving this to New Products and Deals post.

with the affordability of strokers why use pistons for a stock stroke 383 and 400. personally if you do make them it would be good to have options. I myself have a 383 I'm looking to rebuild, but I'm thinking stroker for more torque.

IMHO.. yes there is a market for these pistons.Look at the posts on this site about find9ing replacement pistons using stock rod lengths.Not everyone wants to build a stroker engine.

Thanks for your input Jerry & Chris

Mike thanks for making parts for our cars. But you never put any contact information or price for the pistons. What heads were these pistons to be used with 906, 915, 346, or stealth?

I'm interested, I'm going to be building a stock 383, might punch it .030, but I'm looking for a nice forged piston that will give me 11.1 comp with the performer rpm heads.

I like the idea. However I may be way ahead of the curve on this for my reason. Up here in Canada we're shelling out $6 per gallon and up for gas. It makes you think twice about building your stroker and is why I kept a 383 in my 70 pickup rather than building something bigger for it. I had to re-use the stock pistons in a slightly sketchy bore because of the lack of piston choice.
I do note though that most states guys are building without regard to fuel economy, due to gas being lower priced there. So good luck with it, not sure if the market will make it a success or not.

Sheldon

My ideas as far as compression ratios are the following. 9.5-1 is a safe maximum Iron head ratio with pump prem fuel.10.5 is easily safe for the Eddies and Stealth.

Iron factory cyl heads w/closed chamber 516/915 9.5-1 w/.040 gasket.

Iron factory cyl heads w/open chamber 906/346/452/902 9.5-1 w/.020 gasket.This piston will have a positive deck height likely +.020 w/9.980 I don't think a complete quench is possible due to non uniform factory chambers but still much better than what is available.Still working on the chamber issue.They will not have the KB quench lump.

Aluminum cyl heads with closed chamber 10.5 with .040 gasket.

A domed high compression piston will also be available in race alloy.Price will be higher but still way lower than custom prices.

All comp ratios will be figured at .000 deck height 9.980

All will be floating and press fit pins.

Your choice of ring size 5/64 or 1/16 at no extra cost.

All comp ratios will be adjustable via cyl hd cc's, Some heads may need some milling to reach the desired comp ratio.

Sorry no pricing or manufacturer (hoping to do a private label deal)info yet but price should be about the same as an Icon.

I build many low deck perf type engines and that is the reason I am trying to put this together.No more flat top TRW/SP/Fed M type no notch down the bore heavyweights.No KB cast.

If this works I will also have a legal NHRA stock elim piston. It will be as required a flat top with 1.908 comp dist (383), wo/notches and race piston material.

I await your suggestions and comments.Thank you all!

Valve reliefs sized for common aftermarket heads?That would be sweet. I think there's a market.

You have my attention.

Having built both 383s and 440s in the past, I'd never build another stock-stroke 383 that required "good" pistons. If I had to spend the $$$ for anything beyond stock-type parts for one, it would be getting at least a 3.75"-stroke crank, too.

I love light weight pistons but I think the biggest market for this would be a stock weight so no balancing is required. You start buying pistons, turning your crank, balancing... and it just becomes too much for a non-stroker build

Most of my customers want cheap performance. Strokers are awesome but just cost too much for most guys, on the other hand most guys can swing $2500-3000 for a 400/383 with 516 heads zero deck quench build, add a little cam and decent intake and you can build a strong stock stroke engine.

Update!


The first set should be ready in a couple weeks.I will post pics and specs with price then.Unlikely that this modern forging could be stock weight.But there may be a way to work that out.I am looking into that. Please continue comments and your ideas.

Lighter should be no problem, $150-250 for a balance job where you're just drilling the crank; as long as you don't have to put any mallory into it, not a big deal IMO. S/F.....Ken M

Has anyone mentioned the idea of using a RB rod (6.76) to shorten the piston and reduce more weight?

I know the 383 already has a very good rod/stroke ratio, but this would be in the interest of reducing reciprocating mass. Or it's not worth the hassle?

Hughes engines carries a Diamond piston that uses the standard 6.766" rod. It's a flat top design, 1.516" compression height, p/n DIA51907-8 and looks to be a nice slug, but they ain't cheap!

Hey, was lookin' good until I got to...........

Quote:

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but they ain't cheap!

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And that's why I put out in this thread. Factory "LY" rods can be had cheap.

Keep the comments coming guys.I am exploring all piston and rod configurations.I think you will be pleased when I have the finished product to show you.I want to cover the 383-400 stock config first.I will get to the stroker and long rod configs soon if folks are interested.

What are we talking price wise for a set or price per piston?

I'd buy a set if you make some .040 over size. I have a basically new short block 383 that has low compression. I'd like to use the engine in my satellite if I could bump the compression up some. So count me as a yes.