Time to plan a "new" engine build. I'll probably keep it mostly stock. I have some heavy Ross pistons (785 ? does that sound right?) and a LW block so far...no heads worth talking about.
Yup, I have a set of 425 Ross forgings in stock. Picked them up when Maddog had them on clearance. They're about the same weight as stock. The Ross piston is 787 g, the pin is 159 g, for a total of 947 g. A stock 401 is 728 g piston and rings, 222 g for the pin = 950 g total. I wonder if there are lighter pins available? Which car are you building this for?
What car and what do you want it to do? Resto with gusto? Pro-touring? Bigs/littles track car? Can help you with the camming and general overall build. I am WD with Racetec for pistons and have done a few thin ring builds. Budget plays a big part in the build, as well, as anything up to and beyond 1hp per cube gets expensive quick. Wkillgs, yes, light pins should be available. What pin dia did Ross use? .927?
65 Wildcat "resto with gusto" covers just about everything in my garage. Need to build this one for the 5-speed Wildcat Coupe with shorty headers, Tremec, .82 od, 3.42 rear. I repurposed the MW that was slated for that project- stuck it in the 64 LeSabre Wagon til I can get that KX done too. Nothing like firing up an engine in a car that has not been on the road for 15 years and having it run great. One of the reasons I have great love for the nailhead is the 401 in my Riviera - first engine I rebuilt on my own- in 1994- and it ran great til the rear seal started leaking a couple years ago. Now I have done 3 pretty serious nailhead engines, dyno'd and now I feel like i know even less than I did on the first job. One thing I concluded from the dyno- do not compromise on pistons or compression, and there is power in the head work. dual-quadism- I have a commitment with Tom T for the pistons already- but thank you for the offer. TN
I remember when Maddog was selling the Ross forged pistons but did not realize they were that heavy. I didn’t get any and will order from Tom when I do need a set.
A stock 425 piston WITHOUT rings weighs 725 grams. The stock pin is 233grams. For a total of 748 grams. My pistons on average are 650 grams & 1" pins are average 150 grams. Now a forged piston being more dense than cast should weigh more. My pistons ALREADY are lightened as part of the forging/design process weighing an average of of 150 grams lighter than stock which = 5.2 ounces less than a stock set-up. With a longer rod & smaller pin the weight is less. Have been as little as 560 & 140=700 grams.
You ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT Joe, should have been 958 grams. Thta's what happens with short, stubby, old fingers with arthur itis starting to rear it's ugly head.
Since this post in 2018 I managed to purchase an LX assembly with carbs and 4-speed transmission. Block and the Ross pistons have been in the well known machine shop purgatory situation... some work done but needs a finishing push. Carmen sold me his torque plate- if anybody wants to borrow it we can talk. Remember back in '98/99 when there was a scare about no more Nailhead cam blanks? I ordered 2 cams from the GSCA then - one is running in the 425 that I originally built for this car...runs well, I will use the other one in this build. or maybe the "091" cam I bought from Russ. Both good options. This car done will be my 60th birthday present to myself , as the red convertible was for my 40th bday.
The Glacier moved last year! LX block in previous post was too broken to sleeve. Water jacket would never seal. My LW block went into the machine shop and is now ready to assemble. I had it balanced with a 4-sp flywheel butt probably should get an auto flex plate for it.
