SBC 283 forged pistons

[F-BIRD'88]

If you can't tune you will bust pistons reguardless.
If you tune for the fuel used and build it with a low cr (8.5:1 cr OR LESS) the (any type) pistons are not stressed by (reasonable) boost.
(Because there is no detonation nore excess heat.
Ya you have to follow the ring gap guidlines.
Not that hard.
On a 283 cid engine a roots blower will achieve 10 psi boost and make big big power at modest blower drive speed , thus the blower discharge temps are very good resulting in a very reliable yet very powerfull 283 sbc.
I bet you will chicken out at the 10 psi level on this motor.
It will GLH. The bottom end is not highly stressed.
450+++ hp. 6-7 psi.. (10 psi is 500 hp capable on a free breathing warmed over 283.)
Build it with a low compression ratio. Use 92+ octane gas. Be sure the jetting is rich enough @wot under boost and the max wot spark advance is kept reasonable for the boost and fuel and cr. Do not use a small carb.

[F-BIRD'88]

Which supercharger does the end User have his heart set on for this?

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

The suggestion that hyperutectic pistons would be fine is just flat out foolish.
I see guys break those things on NA apps due to poor ring gap and tuning choices.
A blower of any kind just magnifies that issue.

Brazil,
Other than that ...is this
gas or alky?
injected or carbed?
roots or centrifugal?
street or strip?

Hi Dave

I agree totally with you, even for a low boost aplication, forged pistons is the way to go, but when you live in a Country where import parts cost about ten times more due the taxes, you might consider options.

Sorry for the lack of info, initially this will be a low boost, 8-10 psi, roots blower on good 96 octane pump gas. It will take it no problem.

Mostly street use, powerglide and freeway friendly gears. 400 to 450 HP range would be nice.

Good hyper pistons won't take tha power safelly in your experience?

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

Which supercharger does the end User have his heart set on for this?

We're thinking about the weiand 144 kit and a 850+ carb plus a MFT cam around 236-238@. 050 at 112 lca. Should be fun.

Thanks for the tips!

[F-BIRD'88]

Have a look at and consider the Edelbrock/Magneson
Eaton Mp122HH blower kit. Ut is a bit more money but a better more efficient supercharger.

[econo racer]

I have run the KB hyper pistons for yrs at 6-7 psi 400 sbc maybe 9.8 compression, 64 cc head. The piston is designed for the blower. Has a big D-cup with the top ring land moved further down and I gaped the rings at 27 thous. The key to keep it from popping is the ring gap the d-cup-timing 30-32 degrees and the right cam. 112 lobe center would be good on the 283. Watch the plugs for getting white. That is a sign its gonna pop. Too lean. I jet a little fat. I ran 91 to 93 octane on mine. If you can splurge for forged I would do it. Remember OP has 96 octane that cool.

[shoedoos]

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pts/d/ ... 09087.html

[Dave Koehler]

If you can't tune you will bust pistons reguardless.
If you tune for the fuel used and build it with a low cr (8.5:1 cr OR LESS) the (any type) pistons are not stressed by (reasonable) boost.
(Because there is no detonation nore excess heat.
Ya you have to follow the ring gap guidlines.
Not that hard.
On a 283 cid engine a roots blower will achieve 10 psi boost and make big big power at modest blower drive speed , thus the blower discharge temps are very good resulting in a very reliable yet very powerfull 283 sbc.
I bet you will chicken out at the 10 psi level on this motor.
It will GLH. The bottom end is not highly stressed.
450+++ hp. 6-7 psi.. (10 psi is 500 hp capable on a free breathing warmed over 283.)
Build it with a low compression ratio. Use 92+ octane gas. Be sure the jetting is rich enough @wot under boost and the max wot spark advance is kept reasonable for the boost and fuel and cr. Do not use a small carb.

Rather than go on about what can go wrong in your perfect scenario world I will put it this way.
I am in business.
I am in business to make a profit.
Customer believes the positive advertising and asks for Hyperutectic pistons.
I explain what makes them good but also take time to explain what makes them a bad choice.
The customer insists on them because someone said ahh shucks they will be fine plus they are a few dollars cheaper.

I am aware that the above can and has happened more than once.
I explain why I will not use or sell a part that I know has a history of breakage and has the potential to cause financial harm to me or the customer.

Let's pretend that I sell the customer the pistons anyway.
When despite all the warnings and tuning tips one of those few dollar cheaper pistons pops a ring land.
It no longer matters why it did that.
It only matters who sold them.
There will be zero memory of being told what can go wrong and to read the guidelines.
It does not matter whether the customer can or cannot tune a fish I WILL be the bad guy and future sales will be impacted.
A first year, bottom of the class lawyer will ask if there was a better choice of piston. Guess how that will go.
In these days of social media this can have a huge impact on future sales.
I am in business to make a profit.

[turbo camino]

So it's OK to run end gaps too tight as long as you have forged pistons?

[Dave Koehler]

So it's OK to run end gaps too tight as long as you have forged pistons?

Please don't imply things I did not say.

[F-BIRD'88]

I understand your position as a seller-builder.

[turbo camino]

So it's OK to run end gaps too tight as long as you have forged pistons?

Please don't imply things I did not say.

I didn't. That's the logical conclusion from your position of 'forged instead of hypereutectic absolves me of liability in the event of a failure', so...

[Dave Koehler]

nah, you read too much into it to fit your own feelings on the subject.

[turbo camino]

You still seem to be basing this on some notion that forged pistons are indestructible, and if that were true, then I think everyone would agree with you. The right kind of idiot can break a forged piston just as easy as a hyper.

Your opinions based on what makes business sense for you and your customers isn't relevant here unless the OP is paying you to build this engine.

[Dave Koehler]

I realized when I wrote that I would get letters stating or inferring that "I never had a problem".
Fine, if that makes you feel good that I inferred something to make your case then it's all good.
However, no where did I mention forged pistons.

Let me put this another way.
The person who thinks buying Hyper pistons based on a cost saving being a good thing is EXACTLY the wrong person to use those pistons.