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V6 Dakotas
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Shank
GenII
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10/13/2003
21:58:36

Subject: Best Pistons
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Larry, I sent you an e-mail on this and I sent 1 to KRCPerformance for their input also. Anybody else's opinion would be greatly appreciated also.

I sent the block to the machine shop to get bored .030 over. Ordered Crome-Moly Rings .030 over and when I was ordering Pistons I think they tried to $krew me. $35 ea for replacement stock pistons.

www.summitracing.com Part# STL-H405P030 are Hypereutectic machined pistons for $14.99

Better pistons at better price? they Also have stock replacements .030 over for $37.99

Any suggestions?
Shank



Shank
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10/14/2003
22:05:55

RE: Best Pistons
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After a long talk with the tech shop and tech support at SummitRacing i came to the grim realization that the last post won't work.

I was under the Impression that the 3.9 had a 4.00" Bore, Unfortunately it has a 3.91" Bore. In order to make the pistons I wanted work it would have to be bored .120 over. Not Possible.

Back to the drawing board I finally had to settle for the STL-285NP40 Cast Aluminum Pistons w/Valve Relief. 6 Pistons and 8 Pack of Ring Sets= $105.28.

Problem is I'm losing Compression ratio....

Stock pistons have a 9.1:1 Ratio which is pretty good. The pistons I chose have about the best ratio among the group at 8.5:1 Guess I'm gonna hafta go back to shaving the head some more since I got valve relief now.

K, Done blabbin to myself
Shank


Next time a Honduh wants to race
Ask him how many sheets of plywood he can haul?

J and J Auto
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10/15/2003
09:42:08

RE: Best Pistons
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Shank,

I sent you an email, the ross light weight pistons
at KRC are like $400 for the 6

You can also contact Keith Black and there are
others who will make anything you want.

Or Stock

Larry
J&J Auto

Shank
GenII
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10/15/2003
10:12:15

RE: Best Pistons
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Thx Larry but the Ross Racing and Keith Black folks been suckin too many exhaust fumes! $400 for 6 Pistons and then you have to purchase the "Special" rings which are another $200!! That's $100/Cylinder !@$#$%%^#&$(!

Already placed my order w/summit. I think these will work good w/the Valve reliefs. The guys @ the Machine shop will work with me. We can Mic the clearance one they are installed and Shave the heads down more until we get the desired compression. I'm shooting for about 10:1. With the Stock Flatheads you can only shave .013. With the valve Reliefs you can shave up to .020. We do it on IMCA Modifieds and turn a 350 or 351 into 700+HP Fire breathing dragons, I think I can squeeze 225Hp outta the V6 without having to burn straight Alcohol.

Laterz,
Shank

Next time a Honduh wants to race
Ask him how many sheets of plywood he can haul?

slow97dakota
Dodge Dakota
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10/15/2003
16:57:20

RE: Best Pistons
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do any companys make forged pistons for these motors?



Paul
Dodge Dakota
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10/15/2003
19:42:38

RE: Best Pistons
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Sorry to bug you guys, but is there any idea of how much extra horsepower pistons would make on this v6?



Shank
GenII
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10/16/2003
01:09:00

RE: Best Pistons
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Not sure yet. We have a Dyno here in Killeen that they use for the Race Cars. I'm going to Dyno my Stock Motor before I install the Performance edition. If you pull up Jegs.com or SummitRacing.com and enter Dodge Pistons in the search there are about a dozen different companies that make pistons, everything to very cheap forged steel all the way up to $100/ea Dome CNC machine Hypereutectic pistons with a 12:1 ratio. I chose one in the Middle that was cheap enough with the highest compression listing. Your Stock Forged Alum pistons have a 9.1:1 Ratio which is pretty good. In order to get an Aftermarket with that ratio your looking at about $40/Piston. While your at it expect to pay about $75 for matching Crome-moly rings also. Honestly I didn't think it was going to be this expensive to do a Lower modification but with the machine work and parts it's already up to almost $500 and I haven't even began assembly yet!

I'm just using old school methods of race engines trying to give mine a Kick Start. I'm starting my grocery list of Mod's from the Inside out.

Once I get done paying for this and get it running I'm going for the Bolt-On Mods Like Headers, 1.7 RR's and Performance chip. Already did the IAT Relocation and Upgraded Injectors.

As far as the Cam, Mopar has a good Roller cam installed and unless your ready to shell out $500 + Labor, I'm sticking with the stock cam. If you are going the Cam route, KRC Performance has a great selection of V6 Cam's. If your doing an upgrade you might as well go all the way and get the wide open Full Lope cam, It's the same price as 1 step up from stock.

My 2c
Shank

Next time a Honduh wants to race
Ask him how many sheets of plywood he can haul?

J and J Auto
GenII
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10/16/2003
09:40:07

RE: Best Pistons
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You can use any 318 aftermarket piston just
be sure to check the clearance between valve
and piston with some white lead or even clay
will work.

The Rods for a 318 are also identical you can
use a stronger rod but the stock unit is the
good old forged steel

I am running 10 to 1 keith black they were like
$380 with the shipping.

Larry
J&J Auto

dodgeboy
Dodge Dakota
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10/17/2003
15:13:14

RE: Best Pistons
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Hey Larry. I found out the hard way the 318/3.9 rods are not the same. the 318 rods have a bearing perch thats about 1/8in wider than the 3.9's rods and for this reason will not fit on a stock crank. However the 3.9 crank can be ground for the 318 rods, and it is a worthwhile upgrade.

Back when I was building my v6 marty told me he could custom cut me a set of keith black pistons for any compratio I wanted for around 300 bucks. I was stupid to go with stock pistons...upgrade now when the motor apart. Dont mill the heads to correct the comp ratio. The correct way to do it is to get the correct piston. You are going to have problems with pushrod length and angle if you will enough of the head to go from a 8.5 to 10.0 comp ratio...



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