Piston Costs to Buy New

Maniacmechanic1

solid fixture here in the forum
Starting a new thread on popular V8 Engines to overhaul and rebuild stock, Street Performance, & Full Drag Race Use and pistons for them.
I have noticed lately on many sites & FB the guys lack money $.
All Been there.

Its real risky running any engine with unknown history as is & just swapping in a Cam.
Most of the time the engine will fail & blow up.

Going to mainly look at pricing 1st.
 
bXiuOUq.png
lDPsUKs.png
nRhxT8Z.png
4u6WH9G.png
IbTB0iL.png
 
So the list is for a 454 BBC with stock length connecting rods & a 4.00" crank stroke.
Really no inexpensive options with an .030" inch overbore required on 99% original engine cores found & usable.

The Keith Black Hyperunetics are the lowest cost but also the most feared piston to use by many Hotrodders. They don't get the top end ring gap right and the rings butt together & the piston top blows off & the engine blows up.
Many unconfirmed reports online they hold up to 800 HP just fine in a Big Chevy & Pontiac 455.
But Risk we try & eliminate her on Grumps.

So down the line.....Have Sealed Power Forged..Old TRW power forged pistons with graphite coated skirts....$511.00.

If I was to pick a set of Forged & want to keep cost down the ICON 2618 Pistons look very good.

No such thing as a Budget BBC We can see that right away.
Going to Need $$$$.
 
Alright.
We are going to skip over the popular 383 SBC.
Reason being to build it Grumpy's way you will need $10k cash for sure.
Plan on top dollar parts for it.
 
We are going to skip over all the 350 Chevy Forged pistons.
Just go 383 Stroker or 400 SBC....Going to need $10,000-$18,000 for 500 + HP.
It all adds up to that.
Budget does not exist with SBC no longer.

Work on other Engine Family's. Pontiac V8 & Olds V8.
We are going to skip over Cadillac V8....Low revving engine & I do not trust it for High RPM use any.
 
stop by several local machine shops and ask questions,
buy a half dozen reference books and yeah youll need a few basic tools
many of the older shops will provide rather economically priced ,
cast of FORGED pistons from shelf stock, if you have the block machine work done by them.
pistons that currently list for $700 plus can be had on a package deal for hundreds less.
finding a reliable and skilled machinist you can trust and ask for guidance is a critical step in your first few engine builds.
you can also frequently get a better price if you purchase the complete balanced forged, rotating assembly from SCAT or a trusted vendor.
a few shops will give you a few bucks back on O.E.M cranks and rod cores


related threads
(try to read the sub-links thats where most info is)

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ing-parts-and-a-logical-plan.7722/#post-85144

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-system-mods-that-help.2187/page-2#post-77851

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/finding-a-machine-shop.321/#post-59253

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...on-ring-info-youll-need.509/page-2#post-77252

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...g-with-a-local-machine-shop.14419/#post-74383

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...oo-deal-with-a-machine-shop.14454/#post-75062

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/think-thru-your-goals.10606/#post-73288

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ing-parts-and-a-logical-plan.7722/#post-72126

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ting-started-in-the-car-hobby.339/#post-60236

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ore-clearance-on-your-block.14251/#post-72471

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/precision-measuring-tools.1390/#post-68850

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...market-4340-connecting-rods.13321/#post-72047

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...in-height-compression-height.5064/#post-69254

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/forged-or-not.13226/#post-69018
 
Last edited:
This thread is for all the guys Low Bucks Grumpy.
Opposite of what has been done here for years.
Using stock production crank, stock connecting rods the engine was built with, stock engine block, stock cast iron cylinder heads.
It represents 99 % of the guys out there today.

Very few actually can dish out $10-$30K instant.
Maybe in 5-25 years.
By then most have lost interest. Cars sold off unfinished. They got old & died literally.

Total opposite of your way all brand new & nothing OEM Chevy left.
 
yes you can rarely find screaming low cost deals on 1/2 completed projects,
that frequently, some guys widow is unloading ,
or some guy who has decided its beyond his skill level,
or he no longer has the desire to complete the project,
those are golden opportunities we all look for,
but its been my experience they are rather rare,
and in many cases you only hear about them,
when a buddy purchased the project, well before you ever had the opportunity.
yes accumulating a mix of good O.E.M. parts and well matched aftermarket parts is time intensive and expensive,
Its also generally the route required to build a truly dependable engine,
simply because if you don,t know the quality of parts and machine work,
in that used engine its a gamble that may or may not be as advertised,
at best total disassembly of an components or engine, close inspection and checking clearances is warranted.
I don,t get a nickle from anyone's project, but I do want them to avoid expensive mistakes.
All too common mistakes I see being made rather frequently
 
Last edited:
I see You added Grumpy.
Lol.
When guys are broke they are broke.

I want the very Best always too !
Takes money !
Best move I made was to get out of Auto side as a day job.
Diesel mechanic I am now again pats much better !
Race Engine. Race Car !
 
Had a discussion on a closed Pontiac race group drag race tonight Grumpy.
Guy has a 4-1/2 " inch crank stroke all aluminum 535 ci Pontiac V8.
Going to turn 8500 rpms.
Steel rods.
Stainless valves.
Steel retainers.
Latest greatest 460cfm heads.

I will not even go there.
Just kaboom !

Told him you need titanium metal.
Cut back on RPMs.
1000 hp N/A goal.
I see no point.
 
theres lots of guys that don,t comprehend the stress levels involved in spinning a longer stroke engine up over 7000 rpm,
as a result theres a lot of guys who as a result get an expensive personal education in that area,of engineering stress management ,
after their engine "EXPLODED FOR NO REASON" and 90% plus will blame the machine shop ,
not realizing or refusing to accept, its their own lack of grasping the concepts involved.
P12CHARTS.jpg

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/redline.343/#post-15729

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-potential-dream-bbc-combos.14607/#post-77976
 
Last edited:
theres lots of guys that don,t comprehend the stress levels involved in spinning a longer stroke engine up over 7000 rpm,
as a result theres a lot of guys who as a result get an expensive personal education in that area,of engineering stress management ,
after their engine "EXPLODED FOR NO REASON" and 90% plus will blame the machine shop ,
not realizing or refusing to accept, its their own lack of grasping the concepts involved.
P12CHARTS.jpg

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/redline.343/#post-15729

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-potential-dream-bbc-combos.14607/#post-77976
Yes. A 535 Stroker Aftermarket block Pontiac V8 is usually meant for 5,000-5,500 rpm redline.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Really liking Turbo charging Grumpy.
Does phenomenon Torque gains.
CAN stay in safe zone too with rpms.
If the TA was not so rare and valuable I would T or TT.

Think it would be great on a C4 Vette.
Solve all header issues NA for max Hp.
 
Back
Top