Tom Telesco, working on GOOD pistons for the Nailhead!

Discussion in ''Da Nailhead' started by SpecialWagon65, Nov 17, 2013.

  1. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Tom - is your special deal on these pistons and stuff still going? I think I may want to get in on it as well. Found I am going to have to pull the engine in my GS. So in the next week or so I will be taking another block and heads to the machine shop.

    Thanks!
     
  2. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    A reply to Matt. The M.O. arrived 2/28/14

    Tom T.

    ---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------

    I'm sure I can Johnny. A check made out to myself & mailed to the address below.


    Tom T.
     
  3. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Thats great to hear Tom. I'll try to get by the bank probably tomorrow to get you a MO. Thanks - Johnny
     
  4. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Tom - got the deposit made out on a Money Order. All sealed up in an envelope and will be headed your way in the morning!
     
  5. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    These are the pistons custom made for John Codman. You can see how deep the valve reliefs are as well as how the piston is made. I would say that the majority of pistons ordered will appear like this. The cast pistons & pins that were pulled out weighed 956 grams. The replacements are 912 grams. The biggest diff. being in the pin weight of 144 grams as opposed to 223-230 grams. The piston is heavier at 768 grams. But if nec. this could be lightened up substantially. Given we are so close to the original balancing specs. of John's particular engine & taking into account this will be the 3rd. balance job, because we had to troubleshoot the vibration problem, will be a fairly easy proposition.
    Eight pictures enclosed.


    Tom T.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    Give me feedback or any comments.


    Tom T.
     
  7. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks for the info Tom. Will John be going back with the 1" pressed pin? Or did he opt for a different pin setup which is how he resulted in less overall weight?
     
  8. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Pistons look great!
    I'm most impressed you learned how to post pictures!:grin:
     
  9. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    On the pictures, NOT WITHOUT HELP. Since I now have a laptop I brought it to work with me.
    On the pins they are 1". And, these weights for the pistons are for a 425 +.030. I would assume that a 401 would be lighter.


    Tom T.
     
  10. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks for the clarification Tom. They look great and weight savings are always a plus. I'm not sure off hand what a set of stock cast pistons and pins for a 401 weigh. I need to try and get an average weight of the ones I am about to take to the machine shop, so I can do a comparison after the we get the new ones built. Just for grins.
     
  11. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    Most stock or replacement pins are on the average of 223-230 grams. The pins are also 3.520" long. Since the supplied pins are made of a better/denser material than stock if they were the same length they would actually be heavier. A 1" pin is 2.800" & the others,927/980/990" pins are 2.700" long. On a 425 I'm doing now, since we are using longer rods, the pins are actually closer to 125 grams. Since the rods are longer the piston is smaller & being a 425 bored .0375" over the pistons weigh in at 635 grams. I will lighten them even more as there is PLENTY of material under the dome to accomplish this. We will NEVER get down to the weight of a SBC piston. Some can be as light as 200 grams, give or take. The lighter the rotating assembly the more easily the engine can spin up to what it has as it doesn't have to fight the weight which in turn is easier on bearings & other internal engine components. Also it will free up some HP to boot. Just using 1/16th." rings can be good for 15HP. Just like using a lighter stick flywheel or a smaller diameter converter. Whatever it takes, within reason for what most of us are doing, I would do. As HP deficient as the "Nail" is I'll take whatever I can get to help it overcome.
    A stock 401 piston is in the area of 748 grams. The 425 is in the area of 770 grams. So a combined weight of piston & pin is close to 1000 grams.
    Anymore questions, hope there are, I'm here.


    Tom T.
     
  12. yacster

    yacster Lv the gun tk the Canolis

    Looking great Tom. No Questions, you always explain the things you do in great detail.... See you at the spring lunch :TU:
     
  13. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    Guys, I need your engine specs. To get this deal I have to order five (5) sets at a time. The response has been GREAT!!!! I have gotten over 20 deposits. I want to get this going full bore. Maybe more will climb on the bandwagon. Each set is CUSTOM made for each engine. That's why I need your specs. This is not a generic, one size fits all where the pistons will be in the hole .050"- .070" & now it's nec. to deck the block to gain some compression, which means losing some of it's strength along with the additional costs associated. There are many options to go along with this set-up. Don't forget, your getting FORGED pistons, a conventional ring set in available sizes in either 5/64ths. or 1/16", pins in .927, .980, .990 or 1", locks if nec. & pin fit all for the low price of $795.00. Just CUSTOM forged pistons ALONE go for more than $800.00. Now add all the other stuff & your well into 1K.
    I need feedback.


    Tom T.
     
  14. 66BulldogGS

    66BulldogGS Platinum Level Contributor

    The machine shop called me early this week saying they would be working on my block and would let me know a size, but i didnt hear back. I will call them Monday and see how close we are. Also may have to take them a new set of heads. They had found what looked to be a crack in one of the exhaust crossovers. They were supposed to let me know the latest on that as well.
     
  15. Bigpig455

    Bigpig455 Fastest of the slow....

    I'm looking forward to mine!
     
  16. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    Those pistons sure are purty, Tom. I can hardly wait to see the engine run again! :TU: Maybe we should order one more so that I can hang it on the wall...
     
  17. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Tom, what exactly do you need to know? I'll ask some questions myself and others may have on their mind...
    How is this list:
    - Bore size
    . . - 401
    . . - 425
    . . - Overbore- determined by cylinder wear and piston ring availability
    - Ring set
    . . - 5/64" =stock
    . . - 1/16" =lower drag
    . . - Moly top ring or other
    - Compression height, aka pin height
    . . - How far below deck piston needs to be
    . . - Selection based on:
    . . . . . - desired quench distance- what do you recommend, about 0.035"?
    . . . . . - head gasket thickness- original steel, or modern composite = 0.015"/0.040"
    . . . . . - whether block needs to be resurfaced
    . . . . . - whether main bearing bores need to be align bored, or rods reconditioned= negligible (?)
    . . . . . - production variance
    - Desired compression ratio
    . . - Are you going by dome height, or by volume in cc?
    . . - should be matched to the cam you intend to use.
    - Pin size:
    . . - stock is 1"
    . . - why would we go to a different size?
    . . . . . - weight savings
    . . . . . - bushing small rod end for full-floating pin
    . . . . . - what do you recommend, and is there an extra charge for the options?
    - Weight
    . . - obviously, lighter weight= better performance
    . . - does weight reduction cost extra?

    Anyone else have some questions?

    Tom, If you prefer not to spend 6 hours typing, I can call you and answer some of these for everybody:)

    Or maybe someone else post the specs they had theirs built to for an example....
     
  18. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    That helps...now to turn a wrench.
     
  19. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Just to let people know that are building a Nail engine with these pistons,the compression distance can be changed to use an aftermarket rod like a Pontiac H-beam. The same work would need to be done to them as a BBB to run them because the Nail Head uses the same rod bearings as the Nail Head rods are the same width as a BBB rods. The longer BBB factory rod can also be swapped in to shorten and lighten the piston.

    Just an FYI for someone wanting a rod alternative to their factory stock rods that didn't realize this.GL


    Derek
     
  20. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    That would be GREAT Walt.


    Tom T.
     

Share This Page