Piston choice? - Competition Diesel.Com

PRattenbury · 03-17-2007, 01:10 PM

Well, I'm at the point now where I need to make a choice for pistons. I like to get as much input as I can when making choices I know very little about. My truck will be a driver. I'll be running a cam that would require fly cutting stock pistons for valve clearance. My pump timing will be set at 24 degrees. My injectors are DDP Stage 4. The person building my engine (whom I obviously trust), has said to use stock pistons would be quite expensive by the time everything's said and done. Pistons themselves are more expensive, and machine work for fly cutting adds to cost. An option to the stock piston is the Mahle pistons, which would be less expensive to use. I am all for the less expensive option, but I wonder if I am sacrificing quality or anything by doing so. One thing for sure, I want to do this once, and do it right. So, I'd like to hear what you have to say.

ctd8999 · 03-17-2007, 03:17 PM

There are a couple of aftermarket cams that donot require any fly cutting of the pistons. I would use the stock pistons, however the marine engine pistons from Cummins are supposed to be stronger. Just my .02. Thanks Steve B.

PRattenbury · 03-17-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokem

Mahle pistons would be a good choice, but there are 2 things wrong that you listed for a "driver" setup. A cam that requires fly-cutting the pistons will not be street friendly spooling a large single, but possibly a set of twins. Also 24* of timing advance, that is a little high for daily street use, it depends on which injection pump you choose to run.

Thanks. I'll be running Industrial Injection towing twins and a Dragon Flow pump.

DWitcher · 03-17-2007, 05:56 PM

What EX housings are used on the PS62 and the K31 in that setup?

9 LIVES · 03-17-2007, 06:33 PM

dragon flow pump is streetable?

PRattenbury · 03-17-2007, 06:48 PM

Streetability is a pretty broad term. I'm willing to make some sacrifices for more power. The Dragon Flow is a 13mm pump, and doesn't really have any basis on stock pumps to my knowledge.

rshort · 03-17-2007, 09:21 PM

Why don't you contact DDP for piston choice?
Ryan

PRattenbury · 03-18-2007, 07:23 AM

Not a bad idea. I see you run the same injectors. One of the 2 choices offered me is stock pistons for a 215hp engine. Is that what you have? Does the spray pattern work well with repect to the bowl?

rshort · 03-18-2007, 01:27 PM

When I had the head fire-ringed, I noticed the spray pattern was outside the bowl. But I was runnin around 24* timing. I talked to Lenny, he said you don't want to run more than 20* with these injectors.
Ryan

Racer9 · 03-18-2007, 05:33 PM

The OEM pistons are Mahle. At least they used to be. I used to haul parts for Cummins, and picked up Mahle pistons [in Michigan] on a regular basis. I don't know if they're still using them.

PRattenbury · 03-18-2007, 07:17 PM

I did not know that. I guess quality shouldn't be an issue, then.

joefarmer · 03-18-2007, 09:22 PM

I wouldn't be scared to use Mahle pistons at all. I haven't heard anyone complain that Mahle's Cummins pistons broke in half yet.

brnaodn.

03-17-2007, 01:10 PM	#1
PRattenbury Name: PRattenbury Title: Neophyte Status: Not Here Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Connecticut Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,095	Piston choice? Well, I'm at the point now where I need to make a choice for pistons. I like to get as much input as I can when making choices I know very little about. My truck will be a driver. I'll be running a cam that would require fly cutting stock pistons for valve clearance. My pump timing will be set at 24 degrees. My injectors are DDP Stage 4. The person building my engine (whom I obviously trust), has said to use stock pistons would be quite expensive by the time everything's said and done. Pistons themselves are more expensive, and machine work for fly cutting adds to cost. An option to the stock piston is the Mahle pistons, which would be less expensive to use. I am all for the less expensive option, but I wonder if I am sacrificing quality or anything by doing so. One thing for sure, I want to do this once, and do it right. So, I'd like to hear what you have to say. __________________ 1994 2500 4x4 with a couple mods If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

03-17-2007, 03:17 PM	#2
ctd8999 Name: ctd8999 Title: P-Pump chump Status: Not Here Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gibsonia, Pa. Member`s Gallery Posts: 944	There are a couple of aftermarket cams that donot require any fly cutting of the pistons. I would use the stock pistons, however the marine engine pistons from Cummins are supposed to be stronger. Just my .02. Thanks Steve B. __________________ 99 QCSB 4X4 DAVE GOEREND Trans/Converter, VP-44, 759 / 1350, Best 1/4 mi. 11.27 @ 119.78 Best 1/8 mi. 7.19 @ 96.30 92 W250 Auto, 4" exhaust mostly stock 128K mi.

03-17-2007, 06:48 PM	#6
PRattenbury Name: PRattenbury Title: Neophyte Status: Not Here Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Connecticut Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,095	Streetability is a pretty broad term. I'm willing to make some sacrifices for more power. The Dragon Flow is a 13mm pump, and doesn't really have any basis on stock pumps to my knowledge. __________________ 1994 2500 4x4 with a couple mods If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

03-17-2007, 09:21 PM	#7
rshort Name: rshort Title: Diesel Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Jul 2006 Member`s Gallery Posts: 215	Why don't you contact DDP for piston choice? Ryan __________________ '01 2500 auto 4x4 5" exhaust AD150

03-18-2007, 07:23 AM	#8
PRattenbury Name: PRattenbury Title: Neophyte Status: Not Here Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Connecticut Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,095	Not a bad idea. I see you run the same injectors. One of the 2 choices offered me is stock pistons for a 215hp engine. Is that what you have? Does the spray pattern work well with repect to the bowl? __________________ 1994 2500 4x4 with a couple mods If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

03-17-2007, 05:56 PM	#4
DWitcher Name: DWitcher Title: Dr. Frankenstein Status: Not Here Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bakersfield, CA. Member`s Gallery Posts: 441	What EX housings are used on the PS62 and the K31 in that setup?

03-17-2007, 06:33 PM	#5
9 LIVES Name: 9 LIVES Title: Demolition Expert Status: Not Here Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Midland, NC Member`s Gallery Posts: 4,051	dragon flow pump is streetable?

03-18-2007, 01:27 PM	#9
rshort Name: rshort Title: Diesel Enthusiast Status: Not Here Join Date: Jul 2006 Member`s Gallery Posts: 215	When I had the head fire-ringed, I noticed the spray pattern was outside the bowl. But I was runnin around 24* timing. I talked to Lenny, he said you don't want to run more than 20* with these injectors. Ryan __________________ '01 2500 auto 4x4 5" exhaust AD150

03-18-2007, 05:33 PM	#10
Racer9 Name: Racer9 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Erie Pa Member`s Gallery Posts: 721	The OEM pistons are Mahle. At least they used to be. I used to haul parts for Cummins, and picked up Mahle pistons [in Michigan] on a regular basis. I don't know if they're still using them. __________________ '81 Ram D150 4BTA 47RH 2016 Volvo VNL semi tractor. 2018 Dodge Challenger 2018 GMC Sierra 1500

03-18-2007, 07:17 PM	#11
PRattenbury Name: PRattenbury Title: Neophyte Status: Not Here Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Connecticut Member`s Gallery Posts: 1,095	I did not know that. I guess quality shouldn't be an issue, then. __________________ 1994 2500 4x4 with a couple mods If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

03-18-2007, 09:22 PM	#12
joefarmer Name: joefarmer Title: MR. Supreme Overlord Status: Not Here Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ohio Member`s Gallery Posts: 6,137	I wouldn't be scared to use Mahle pistons at all. I haven't heard anyone complain that Mahle's Cummins pistons broke in half yet. brnaodn. __________________ brandon'); DROP TABLE Users;-- 1948 Dodge 1.5t 12v RH swap \| 99 F250 12v RE test rkt \| 11 X5 'no soup' \| 08 F250 CR RE swap \| 05 2500 CR 68 standalone firepunk.com