Forged Pistons, group buy! due Jan 31 2014

[WkillGS]

Posting this to further Tom's Nailhead movement!

Forged Pistons, Group Buy!!
Nailhead Guru Tom Telesco is teaming up with RaceTec Pistons to offer customized forged pistons for our 401/425 Nailheads.

Final specs for your order are not needed at this time, but a deposit to hold your place is needed soon.
Deposit due by Jan 31, 2014.

Here's your chance to get strong, forged piston sets made to your specs.
Primary benefits are strength, optimized quench and compression ratio to produce efficient combustion to reduce detonation and maximize power. Low drag and lighter weight configerations available.

Details:
- Diameter will range from 4.1875" (401, std) to 4.350" (425, 0.0337% over), but limited to available ring sizes.
- Material is 4032 forged aluminum. Perfect for street use since it doesn't expand much when hot..piston-to-bore clearance can be kept at a tight 0.0025" to eliminate piston slap on cold startups.
- Durable for race use....
- Features a thick 0.300"upper ring land to withstand nitrous and boosted applications.
- Compression height/pin height made to your specs for optimum Quench/squish distance.
- Weights will start at a stock 950 g, with lighter versions available depending on your configuration.

- The valve reliefs will have enough clearance for 1.94" valves
- Compression ratio/ dome height made to order, from 0.330"- 0.550".
- Pin diameter. 0.927", 0.980" ,0.990" or stock 1.00". Pressed or full floating. Pins made from 5100 steel.

- Ring sets, included in the deal, would be Hastings, Perfect Circle, or Total Seal. Cast iron or Moly top ring.
- stock 5/64" top/second, 3/16" oil. Moly or cast iron.
- or Low-drag 1/16" , 3/16" oil. Moly or cast iron.
- custom rings avail at extra cost.

As of this moment a complete package will be $795.00 until the end of Jan. 2014.
includes rings, pins & pin fitting.
$500 Deposit due by 1/31/2014 
2/1/14 & after will be at least 10% more.

For more information, visit V8Buick.com
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?275648-Tom-Telesco-working-on-GOOD-pistons-for-the-Nailhead!

or contact Tom Telesco directly:
Tom Telesco
Classic and Muscle Automotive
465 Glenbrook Rd
Stamford, CT 06906-1820
Day Phone 203-324-6045 ET
NailHead Mini-Starters '53-'66
Adjustable Roller Tip Rocker Arms - All NailHeads

"If I can't get it, you don't need it!"

[Bigpig455]

Thanks for putting the news out Walt - I am actually going down tomorrow to see him and spec out my set. This is really a great deal!

[WkillGS]

Rhett, let us know what your specs end up being.... Is this going to be a stock, optimized stock, or high performance build? I know you were considering racing Pure Stock.
Also curious what head gaskets Tom recommends. I have some steel sets I bought since they increase compression ratio over the thick composite ones. But now that we can get GOOD pistons, we can use any gaskets and spec the pistons for the desired compression.
   I'm ordering two sets for myself for future builds. This is a great opportunity to FINALLY get decent pistons.

[Bigpig455]

Walt - it will be a basically stock build but at Tom's recommendation the heads will be set up to utilize composite gaskets and still maintain an honest 10.25. I will be using stock rods and minimal work on the factory crank. The engine came apart clean and looks like we will only be going .030 over on the bore - I'll let you know what he thinks on pin height this weekend.

I'm also thinking of grabbing a set for the numbers matching engine  - that motor will remain with steel gaskets, I squirreled away a couple sets.

"optimzed" stock....I'm honestly trying to keep that to a minumum, although there may be some things I have to do initially when machining for compression ratio. Thats a one shot deal. Other than that, stock rods, crank, valves and valvetrain. No  porting, polishing or gasket matching, although if I see any significant casting flash in the runners I'm gonna get rid of it. Breaks my heart to go back to the AFB and give up my Doc Mods, so that may not last long either (Dont want the Q-Jet to feel unloved)! Lotsa balance and spec.... and Pure Stock rules allow for an additional 1% duration and 2% lift as long as it maintains 16" vacuum, and an additional 1.5 points of compression, although I'm gonna stay away from that to keep it streetable on modern fuels.

Is that stock enough to count? When I run my number (whatever that will be) I dont want alot of talk about..."well sure, because he did X, Y and Z".....I'm building this motor for for stock RPM and reliablity, and a 3.55 gear at the most - more likely keeping my 3.23's. There's plenty of guys with fast Nailheads, but not too many chasing this kind of goal (that I know of anyway)

And as a level set, my best time on the stock unopened motor was 14.76 @ 93.2 with a best 60 ft of 2.10 - all on 3.23's and Silvertown redlines.

Thanks,

[WkillGS]

Thanks Rhett. That's going to be a solid build. I may do something similar for my 'stock' restorations.
What head gasket does Tom recommend, and what is the thickness? .... that'll affect piston choice.

If anyone else is considering a rebuild soon, these would be the only currently avail pistons that won't result in a horsepower DECREASE!! The Egge, Sealed power, and Silvolite pistons have a lower 'compression height' (pin location) that will reduce compression and HP. They're also cast aluminum and lack the strength of the new forgings.

[Bigpig455]

He want's to go with composite gaskets for future availability as the metal ones are out of production. I don't think we've figured out what thickness yet, as we've got to figure in valve depth, piston height, any decking and headwork, etc..

I'll let you know how the equation shakes out soon.

[WkillGS]

Are those composite head gaskets from FelPro, Best, or Victor?

[Bigpig455]

We're going to use Felpro's, at an +/-.038 compressed thickness. With a zero deck, he figures that'll give us a minimum squish of .020-.025

[WkillGS]

Good news!
There were enough orders to meet the manufacturers minimum requirements, and they are going to become a reality!
And more good news... if you didn't get your order in by the deadline (yesterday), they will honor the discounted price for a 'slightly later' time period.... whatever that is, I don't know....Contact Tom directly for more info.... see his info in the first post.

I'm surprised there were only 2 of us on this board that sprung for this deal.
Isn't anyone else planning on rebuilding their engines???

[Brian]

Walt, I am getting ready to rebuild a 401 and I talked to Tom on the phone about the pistons.  After talking to him, I realized they will require some more machining once received to get the CR correct since he is making them with extra material on the dome.  They also will not use the stock rings.  My car is just a show car--just drive it about 200 miles a year, so I cannot justify the expense of the forged pistons, plus the added machining once I get them.  Talked with Carmen Faso and he has good quality cast pistons he sells that are equivalent to the factory pistons (unlike the EGGE pistons everyone else sells), so I am going that direction. 
  If you know a reason this is the wrong way to go, please let me know! 

[Bigpig455]

If your motor has never been apart, or you're not sure - then you likely need pistons.

Check out this piston I took out of a 80k Wildcat motor - this motor was bought new by an elderly lady, driven only by her for 15 years, then driven for not even a year by her 16 y/o granddaughter to school (the Grandaughter hit a deer, and the motor was pulled and stored for 30 or so years when I bought it)

The guy I bought it from swore the motor ran perfect with great compression, vacuum, etc..that's why he kept it for all those years. I probably would have found the same thing if I didn't tear it down...

What do you think would have happened the first time I really nailed it?

Could have held together for years....or just as easily wiped out the block.

[dsags]

Brian, let us know what you think of Carmen's pistons. When my engine was rebuilt I bought quite a few of the parts from Carmen, including the steel head gaskets, but ended up using a set of cast Federal Mogul 69P40 pistons. Happy with those so far. Like you, mine is just a street car.

Dan

[WkillGS]

The problem with the Federal Mogal/Sealed Power pistons is that the pin height (or compression height) is less than stock. This will not only reduce your compression ratio, but also increase the quench distance (squish) which will reduce efficiency, performance and increase susceptibility to detonation. Using thick head gaskets will make it even worse.
 
Carmen (and Russ) might be using the 'Rebuilders Choice' brand. Pin height on those is reported to be near stock.

Brian, the forged pistons can be ordered to use either the stock 5/64" ring width, or a 1/16" if you prefer. Metric rings would be extra cost.
Piston domes will be machined to your spec. They are 'made' thicker to fit a wider range of CR's, then machined to size.

These forged pistons will cost an extra $300 or so, but are stronger, and can produce more compression for higher power and efficiency!

[paul massicotte]

I spoke with Tom when the deal was announced and sent my check the same day.  At this point, the motor is still under my bench.  I wasn't planning on doing the motor until the body was done, but at this point, the pistons look to be a great value and I felt it was worth it to join the cause and help Tom who has been trying to get this done for quite a while. 

So it looks like I'll be changing gears and getting the block to the machinist soon in order to determine the measurements in order to get my set made. 

I think the real value here is that while the car will be stock for now, in the event I install the larger valves, and set up the cam, the shortblock will already be set up correctly. 

[Brian]

I have been trying to get up with Tom for the last two days, but no success.  Anyone know the best time to catch him to discuss the pistons?