03-04 pistons in a 2004.5 engine? - Competition Diesel.Com

24VChevy · 02-13-2010, 10:55 PM

Has anyone tried using 03-04 pistions and injector combo in a 2004.5 and newer motor? Keep in mind we want to keep the fueling of the 2004.5 and newer ECM. Seems like the older pistons are more durable.

Malcolm

*GANDJDIESEL* · 02-13-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24VChevy

Has anyone tried using 03-04 pistions and injector combo in a 2004.5 and newer motor? Keep in mind we want to keep the fueling of the 2004.5 and newer ECM. Seems like the older pistons are more durable.

Malcolm

Yep, we had timing issues with because we tried the 04 and newer inj. We put the 03-04 injectors in it and ran fairly well. It went 115000 miles and drop a valve seat.

SKYNYRD · 02-13-2010, 11:33 PM

you have to run the 03-04 pistons with the 03-04 tips. and 04.5-07 pistons with 04.5-07 tips.

'03-04 - 143° - green
'04.5-07 - 124° - red

04.5 piston that had both 03-04 and 04.5-07 tips ran on it.

24VChevy · 02-14-2010, 12:19 AM

Yes that is the combo I am talking about the 03-04 pistions with the 03-04 injectors with the 2004.5-07 ecm for the fueling.

I ran the 03-04 injector with the 2004.5+ pistion and it worked well but the pistions seem to be weaker and like to split down the middle.

Malcolm

outlaw99 · 02-14-2010, 10:36 AM

prob becasue the injector was spraying to wide, to much heat in the middle of the piston causing it to crack. u have to use whatever injector u are using piston.

03-04 pistons- 03-04 injectors
04.5-07 pistons-04.5-07 injectors

Im running 03-04 psitons and injectors with my 06 ecm, so far the motor a been stout.

*Snedge* · 02-14-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKYNYRD

you have to run the 03-04 pistons with the 03-04 tips. and 04.5-07 pistons with 04.5-07 tips.

'03-04 - 143° - green
'04.5-07 - 124° - red

04.5 piston that had both 03-04 and 04.5-07 tips ran on it.

I notice the melting around the outside edge of the crown.. That must be what they look like right before they die.

not enoughsmoke · 02-14-2010, 10:45 AM

know a boy in town that did the same thing just backwards seems to run fine

outlaw99 · 02-14-2010, 11:01 AM

possibly a blown headgasket right there. thats exactly where my pistons was melted on number 1 when I blew my eadgasket right there, the heat escaped across tat side ofthe piston and decided it wanted to take some piston with it..lol

jlibert · 02-14-2010, 03:11 PM

I'm running 03 style pistons and injectors with an 04.5 ECM.

I ran a recovery program to run the 03 programming, but I'd have to rewire the TPS and ECT circuits to make it work.

for now I'm running 04.5 programming. The truck makes good power, and gets 18mpg. I don't have any complaints with the setup.

-jp

Big Swole · 02-14-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlibert

I'm running 03 style pistons and injectors with an 04.5 ECM.

I ran a recovery program to run the 03 programming, but I'd have to rewire the TPS and ECT circuits to make it work.

for now I'm running 04.5 programming. The truck makes good power, and gets 18mpg. I don't have any complaints with the setup.

-jp

Im curious, did you notice any power gain / loss with this change in piston / Injs.???

Or did you change other things when you built it?

I just wonder is there is an advantage to either setup, HP wise.....

Thanks

paulb · 02-14-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outlaw99

possibly a blown headgasket right there.

I agree. If you notice that the melted marks don't line up with either of the injector spray patterns. The melted marks do match up with the "clover leaf" design of the MLS gasket. The MLS gaskets seem to fail in a sneaky sort of way.

Malcom, which cylinder did you crack the piston in?

Paul

24VChevy · 02-15-2010, 11:57 PM

I have cracked #4 and #5 both different motors BUT always with the 2004.5 pistion. I have also split cylinder walls #6 twice.

EPA Violator · 03-15-2010, 02:27 PM

Anybody else done this? I might be contemplating it also, want to make sure noone has had any issues thusfar with 03 pistons and sticks and 04.5 ECM.

outlaw99 · 03-15-2010, 02:33 PM

I havent had any bottem end problems with my swap. 03-04 pistons and sticks and 06 ecm.

dsr · 03-16-2010, 08:53 PM

not to mess with this thread but how much hp did you guys see from changing to the 04.5 up ecms and what all do you have to change

06ramcummins · 03-27-2010, 10:05 PM

anyone use a 04.5 inject and cyl. with an 03 ecm?? that will be my combo if i cant get the motor to start with this 04.5 programing. this is a fordcummins conversion im doing and was told if the motor wont start i need to switch to the 03 programming to interact with the the ford stuff so i can keep my cruise.

no hijack intended.

Blueboy · 03-28-2010, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outlaw99

I havent had any bottem end problems with my swap. 03-04 pistons and sticks and 06 ecm.

I am new at this, bear with me.
When changing to 03-04 pistons, Do I use my injectors
2.5 and just have tips changed.
Since I will need to buy new pistons, Would it be better
to buy Marine or stock 03. I don't care about cost.
My truck is 05.

*Snedge* · 03-28-2010, 08:42 AM

The marine pistons don't cost much more. They are just hard to get quickly.

02-13-2010, 10:55 PM	#1
24VChevy Name: 24VChevy Title: Ram-Bow Status: Not Here Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nanaimo Member`s Gallery Posts: 724	03-04 pistons in a 2004.5 engine? Has anyone tried using 03-04 pistions and injector combo in a 2004.5 and newer motor? Keep in mind we want to keep the fueling of the 2004.5 and newer ECM. Seems like the older pistons are more durable. Malcolm __________________ Pro Stock build: 96 Impala SS "The Diesel DoorSlammer!"

02-13-2010, 11:33 PM	#3
SKYNYRD Name: SKYNYRD Title: "Drunkard" Status: Not Here Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Member`s Gallery Posts: 5,666	you have to run the 03-04 pistons with the 03-04 tips. and 04.5-07 pistons with 04.5-07 tips. '03-04 - 143° - green '04.5-07 - 124° - red 04.5 piston that had both 03-04 and 04.5-07 tips ran on it. __________________ Leonard 79 VW rabbit diesel (ALH & 4motion ) 04.5 rclb 4x4 01 & 03 VW Golf TDI 05 rcsb 2wd (in progress) ROSKOE115: "It's ain't avatar material but I'd hit it!"

02-14-2010, 10:45 AM	#7
not enoughsmoke Name: not enoughsmoke Title: floatin in tha gulf Status: Not Here Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: tenn Member`s Gallery Posts: 5,730	know a boy in town that did the same thing just backwards seems to run fine __________________ 1995 F350 Powerstroke 1995 F350 Fummins 1995 F250 lightning clone 1968 Fastback GT 2003 F150 1994 F350 IDIT 1988 F350 IDIT 2003 Dodge 2500 1999 F250 Powerstroke 1993 F250 Fummins 1979 F350

02-14-2010, 11:01 AM	#8
outlaw99 Name: outlaw99 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: london Member`s Gallery Posts: 4,209	possibly a blown headgasket right there. thats exactly where my pistons was melted on number 1 when I blew my eadgasket right there, the heat escaped across tat side ofthe piston and decided it wanted to take some piston with it..lol __________________ 04 QCLB 'OLD WHITEY' 839/1670 100hp tips... TOOPS PERFORMANCE IN HOUSE DYNO TUNING EFI LIVE/UDC TUNING CUMMINS 03-04.5 efi conversions

02-14-2010, 03:11 PM	#9
jlibert Name: jlibert Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: CA Member`s Gallery Posts: 3,454	I'm running 03 style pistons and injectors with an 04.5 ECM. I ran a recovery program to run the 03 programming, but I'd have to rewire the TPS and ECT circuits to make it work. for now I'm running 04.5 programming. The truck makes good power, and gets 18mpg. I don't have any complaints with the setup. -jp __________________ J.P. Libert https://instagram.com/jplibert/

02-14-2010, 12:19 AM	#4
24VChevy Name: 24VChevy Title: Ram-Bow Status: Not Here Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nanaimo Member`s Gallery Posts: 724	Yes that is the combo I am talking about the 03-04 pistions with the 03-04 injectors with the 2004.5-07 ecm for the fueling. I ran the 03-04 injector with the 2004.5+ pistion and it worked well but the pistions seem to be weaker and like to split down the middle. Malcolm __________________ Pro Stock build: 96 Impala SS "The Diesel DoorSlammer!"

02-14-2010, 10:36 AM	#5
outlaw99 Name: outlaw99 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: london Member`s Gallery Posts: 4,209	prob becasue the injector was spraying to wide, to much heat in the middle of the piston causing it to crack. u have to use whatever injector u are using piston. 03-04 pistons- 03-04 injectors 04.5-07 pistons-04.5-07 injectors Im running 03-04 psitons and injectors with my 06 ecm, so far the motor a been stout. __________________ 04 QCLB 'OLD WHITEY' 839/1670 100hp tips... TOOPS PERFORMANCE IN HOUSE DYNO TUNING EFI LIVE/UDC TUNING CUMMINS 03-04.5 efi conversions

02-15-2010, 11:57 PM	#12
24VChevy Name: 24VChevy Title: Ram-Bow Status: Not Here Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nanaimo Member`s Gallery Posts: 724	I have cracked #4 and #5 both different motors BUT always with the 2004.5 pistion. I have also split cylinder walls #6 twice. __________________ Pro Stock build: 96 Impala SS "The Diesel DoorSlammer!"

03-15-2010, 02:27 PM	#13
EPA Violator Name: EPA Violator Title: CR Wrencher Status: Not Here Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Winchester, KY Member`s Gallery Posts: 560	Anybody else done this? I might be contemplating it also, want to make sure noone has had any issues thusfar with 03 pistons and sticks and 04.5 ECM. __________________ 2018 Dually 2018 2500 Laramie 2012 MCSB big horn Big Nasty 2010 Laramie QCSB sold 2008 SLT RCLB sold 2006 5.9 POWR sold

03-15-2010, 02:33 PM	#14
outlaw99 Name: outlaw99 Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: london Member`s Gallery Posts: 4,209	I havent had any bottem end problems with my swap. 03-04 pistons and sticks and 06 ecm. __________________ 04 QCLB 'OLD WHITEY' 839/1670 100hp tips... TOOPS PERFORMANCE IN HOUSE DYNO TUNING EFI LIVE/UDC TUNING CUMMINS 03-04.5 efi conversions

03-16-2010, 08:53 PM	#15
dsr Name: dsr Title: Rookie Status: Not Here Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: italy tx Member`s Gallery Posts: 19	not to mess with this thread but how much hp did you guys see from changing to the 04.5 up ecms and what all do you have to change

03-27-2010, 10:05 PM	#16
06ramcummins Name: 06ramcummins Title: Too Much Time Status: Not Here Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Saginaw,tx Member`s Gallery Posts: 268	anyone use a 04.5 inject and cyl. with an 03 ecm?? that will be my combo if i cant get the motor to start with this 04.5 programing. this is a fordcummins conversion im doing and was told if the motor wont start i need to switch to the 03 programming to interact with the the ford stuff so i can keep my cruise. no hijack intended. __________________ 06, 4x4, quad cab, black beauty. ATS tranny and tc. ATS twins, ATS ic. air dog II, floor it stg4, cam, valves, rods, smarty, dr.p, fte 90horse sticks, riding on 33x12.50x18 749hp- torque????

03-28-2010, 08:42 AM	#18
Snedge Name: Snedge Title: Comp Diesel Sponsor Status: Not Here Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Western Pa. Member`s Gallery Posts: 18,859	The marine pistons don't cost much more. They are just hard to get quickly.