What pistons to run in my 440

[Black HP2]

Hi I have a 440 motor at the machine shop 906 heads are done cam is chosen thinking 9.5 to 10 compression ratio 40 over but I am not sure what brand of pistons to buy any suggestions thanks.

 

[Seventy]

40 may limit your options a bit... I would weigh your old pistons and buy something close so you dont have to balance the girl, but I like 4 v relief 6 pack pistons. You can get them in 40 and for about $385 a set with rings, from falcon!!!!! that will give you around 10.5 to 1...

call 800 756 1114 with a list of everything you need, tell them to give you the best price possible, you wont find anyone cheaper, I just looked up the last set I bought of 30's was $388.40 with hastings rings, the set before came with mahle rings and were 60+ for $386.86 that was only a few months back...

Also cheapest place to get bearings, pumps, gaskets, etc etc etc..... good luck... summit sells just the pistons for $422 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/slp-l2355f !!!!!

 

[67Satty]

I think the 6 pack pistons will give him closer to 9.5:1 static compression with 906 heads. 10.5:1 static compression would be if he had 80cc combustion chambers like on a Stealth head, but his 906 heads are probably going to be more like 86-90cc.

 

[Seventy]

I think the 6 pack pistons will give him closer to 9.5:1 static compression with 906 heads. 10.5:1 static compression would be if he had 80cc combustion chambers like on a Stealth head, but his 906 heads are probably going to be more like 86-90cc.

Even better, lol? I have to check but I believe we had like 10.3 to 1 with the 70' 906 heads last one I had done.... I dont think anything was cut and it was a normal felpro head gasket...

 

[minnesota guy]

I think the 6 pack pistons will give him closer to 9.5:1 static compression with 906 heads. 10.5:1 static compression would be if he had 80cc combustion chambers like on a Stealth head, but his 906 heads are probably going to be more like 86-90cc.

Agree here--About 9:1 or 9:5 if using -non milled 452's or 906's..I have some in 87 440 Dodge P/U. With 452 heads nearly uncut--I push 150 lbs compression and can run on 87 octane if I don't strain it too bad. You need a 79.5 cc chamber for 10:5........that usually is over .050 shaved off or more.

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I agree on using 6 pack pistons...Get them cheap from EBAY...or 385.00 with rings is a good deal. I use them in everyday motors and with no milling of 452 heads and felpro gasket--you can get away with 87 octane--(but it likes 90 better) I also run the 2nd smalled voodoo cam--on my truck--I am getting 16mpg in the summer. Decent!

 

[lewtot184]

i would only use those "trw clone" type pistons for one of two things; hell. maybe both. recycled to pop cans or ash trays.

 

[Seventy]

i would only use those "trw clone" type pistons for one of two things; hell. maybe both. recycled to pop cans or ash trays.

Whats wrong with them pistons, I use them all the time, they work great, no failures as of yet, and I blast around with them a bit, not babied by any means, I was moving cars around today for the winter storage, changing oils, and giving them the last bath before putting them away, a few prewash fast laps, and burnouts, them guys run good... I like them "cheap" pistons...
I had more issues with expensive pistons, I had a wiseco forged piston take out an engine, cracked skirts on some kb's that cost more, and dont get me started on dealing with Ross....

Now if you are building a race car, sure go crazy, full forged, $200 each, who cares, but for a driver or even street/strip car, them coated pistons work good...

 

[lewtot184]

Whats wrong with them pistons, I use them all the time, they work great, no failures as of yet, and I blast around with them a bit, not babied by any means, I was moving cars around today for the winter storage, changing oils, and giving them the last bath before putting them away, a few prewash fast laps, and burnouts, them guys run good... I like them "cheap" pistons...
I had more issues with expensive pistons, I had a wiseco forged piston take out an engine, cracked skirts on some kb's that cost more, and dont get me started on dealing with Ross....

Now if you are building a race car, sure go crazy, full forged, $200 each, who cares, but for a driver or even street/strip car, them coated pistons work good...

1960's technology junk! no quench with an open chamber head, just weight. get into the 21st century. i can't believe people still buy that crap.

 

[Seventy]

1960's technology junk! no quench with an open chamber head, just weight. get into the 21st century. i can't believe people still buy that crap.

Ayyyye, is that all, you had me worried like they were problems, lol.... Lew, do you have carbs on your car? Come on catch up with the 80's its called fuel injection, how about suspension, are you still using a solid rear axle and leaf springs? coil over and indy suspension is the way to go, lol.. We are building 45-50 year old cars, it is what it is, diminishing returns, a nice set of pistons is twice as much as them decent ones, but wont make twice the power... NOW if you are building a motor that you want to spend money on, sure its easy, Roller cam, fuel injection, aluminum heads, stroker rods, crank, forged pistons, etc etc etc but the difference is going to be major at that point, obviously the op is using factory 906 heads, and not looking for cutting edge, lol...

I wouldn't be afraid of them trw pistons, they been around a long time, they served me well, and their build quality is nice... PLUS the price is right, under 400 with rings, how can you argue with that?

 

[Cranky]

Send them old school TRW slugs to me if you don't want them. I'll ball end mill at least 200 grams out of them and will run N2O on em even! :grin:

 

[dvw]

If I had a old set of TRW/Speed pro for a mild build I'd run them. Would I purchase them new if I didn't have any, no way. Like Lew say's get some more modern light weight stuff.
Doug

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

I would use a Keith Black hyper -KB236 Or KB184 depending on the chamber cc's of your heads and the depth of the quench side, and mill the head and/or piston quench pad accordingly to your desired ratio or what i'd recommend -around 9.8 static.

 

[Mopar Man 73]

All depends on your application (street only, street/strip or drag race only), how radical of engine build and your budget. We can custom build you some very nice +.040" (4.360" bore) pistons without breaking the bank. I

If you can't find anything else readily available & cost effective for +.040, PM me and we can talk further.

 

[383man]

Dvw and Mopar Man 73 are giving you good advise. The problem is todays pump gas sucks and if you are going to run pump gas it helps alot to build it using modern tech. My 493 is pump gas as I only have ever used pump in it as I use 92 pump all the time but I use aluminum closed chamber heads and built good quench in the eng using D-dish pistons with the partial flattop for nice .045 quench and selecting the right cam to keep cyl press where you want it helps alot. I agree if you use the older open chamber 906,452 type of head and run the older heavy TRW or stock type slug then keep the comp at 9.5 or less. I actually ran the Keith Black quench dome pistons to get quench with open chamber heads and made them work but its a ton of work checking and working each cyl and combustion chamber to get them right. I think KB even makes a decent stock replacement type piston for the 440 also. Good luck with your build. Ron