Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Which Pistons?

[DieselBoy109]

On my 96 12 valve, i would like some opinions on wat pistons i should get. My truck is for the street that anything else, occasional pulling and drag racing but mainly street. With all of my modifications the internals remain stock with 201k on them and i wanted to do pistons. I am not sure whether i want to lower compression and balance and spin faster or wat. But all insight on wat direction each style of piston will give me will be much appreciated. I just want a very fast, powerful, and reliable truck. And also wat block other than the Brazil num. 53(i know this is the bad one) is there? and which one is good? years too would be muchly appreciated

 

[pwknapp]

When I got my '96 motor it has the marine pistons installed. Someone else said the industrials are better for the strength around the ring shoulders? Suggested I always take time to completely warm up with the marines before really dumping the fuel which I always do anyhow. I'm sure others on here over on the competition forum would have better insight.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

For mostly street, use the standard bowl pistons like the 215 hp engine had. The ring placement is a little better for durability under power than the 160-180 hp piston. The big bowl of the 370 marine piston makes it virtually impossible to get over 15. 7 to 1 compression and you will get a lot of white smoke before it finally warms up. I suggest the thicker 3283339 head gasket with the standard piston for about 16. 4 to 1 if you are going for power and decent street performance at the same time. Valve to piston clearance is not much on these engines, so the thicker head gasket combined with the standard bowl gives a good result, especially if you run the rpm up or go to a bigger camshaft some time in the future.

 

[DPashko]

I run Mahle pistons in mine. They seem to work fine, they are a good reputable company for lots of race pistons and PDR uses them in all of their trucks. They are also a fraction of the cost of cummins pistons, but they do not have the steel ring (power ring I believe it is called) cast into the piston above the top ring. they are about $300 for a set with rings and pins from PDR. I think they ar 17. 1-1 compression.

 

[4 wheelssmoking]

try some 3rd gen cr pistons

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

try some 3rd gen cr pistons

Someone else posted a comment once about putting 3rd Gen pistons into a 12-valve despite the seriously different piston bowl. . .

 

[DPashko]

piston bowl on cr piston is centered in the piston, wheres a 12v is offset due to the injectors coming in from the side of the head. Your flame front will be in the wrong area and who knows what will happen or how the engine will run. more then likey you will create a hot spot somewhere. Also the bowl on the cr pistons was designed for much higher injection pressures. This is all my own opinion but if someone had the time and money to test them out it would be very interesting to see what happens.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Our local machine shop uses Mahle exclusively and has very good luck with them. They are very well priced also.

 

[4 wheelssmoking]

some one has done this with good results, less smoke and more power. I believe it was about 40 hp with no other changes.

 

[WDimig]

I run Mahle pistons in mine. They seem to work fine, they are a good reputable company for lots of race pistons and PDR uses them in all of their trucks. They are also a fraction of the cost of cummins pistons, but they do not have the steel ring (power ring I believe it is called) cast into the piston above the top ring. they are about $300 for a set with rings and pins from PDR. I think they ar 17. 1-1 compression.

there is a reason behind why cummins has that steel ring there on the pistons, for longevity, it keeps the aluminum from being beat down by the upper ring on the piston over time, helps the pistons last longer, i think detroit engines have the same deign. just thought id throw that out there. not saying that the mahle pistons are no good, they are very good, i would most likely use them if i could rebuild the engien in my truck.



wes

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

some one has done this with good results, less smoke and more power. I believe it was about 40 hp with no other changes.

Would be interesting to learn more about this