For motors running greater than 10bls of boost it's a good idea to have race
pistons. Available
in assorted compressions ratios, our pistons are considerably stronger
for those higher horsepower motors. Here you can see a stock cast piston
next to one of our high performance forged race pistons. Race pistons are
noticeably heavier due to their beefy construction, but some of this is compensated for with lighter
but stronger matching wrist pins. You get more durability from noticeably thicker ring
glands for strength and larger oil holes for added lubrication. All this helps to withstand
higher temperatures that can be generated from high boost turbo motors.
Another benefit from race pistons is the dome shape. Stock pistons can
hit the valves if you break a timing belt. Race pistons are shaped in the
dome area with sufficient clearance to prevent this potential risk.
Breaking a timing belt can ruin your weekend, everything stops, not to mention a
healthy repair bill for a valve job. The same broken timing belt on a SOHC
engine can be
repaired in the field with a few tools, and a new timing belt if you have our
pistons in your motor.
As timing belts get old, they can also jump a cog in certain unusual
situations. Here again, if you try to start up the motor in this
condition, a valve or two can be hit by the pistons, ruining your
weekend. Preventing this kind of ruined weekend is minimized with our domed
pistons, not to mention the potential cost savings of a needless valve job.
By the way, you should check your timing belt every couple of years to insure
sand isn't causing any unusual wear.
Here you can see
the difference in wrist pin weight. The pin with the thinner wall is
lighter, but actually much stronger due to the materials it's made of.
Inside the pistons you can see the better construction of the
forged race piston with more reinforcement versus the stock cast piston .
When you compare these pistons in person you'll notice the dome of
the race piston is also thicker for added strength and heat dissipation, which
allows it to withstand more punishment.
