piston install

[rocketracer380]

installing pistons backwards for more power

[FC-Pilot]

How much more power do you think you will get? Which pistons? How much pin offset do they have?

Paul

[rustbucket79]

If the valve reliefs don’t line up you’ll be a sad camper!

Irrelevant if the piston has no offset.

[hoodeng]

I would have thought a piston manufacturer would have marked the opposite side of a piston facing forward if there was more power without consequences...maybe they already are?

Cheers.

[rocketracer380]

sqeedpro l2352f

[rocketracer380]

.080 more or less

[Schurkey]

How much piston slap are you prepared to put up with?

What is the intended use of the vehicle?

[lefty o]

gotta say, id find an alternate piston that suits my needs.

[rocketracer380]

.0055 to .006 mild nos 200 shot

[jred]

back in the days gone by 1975 or so we installed pistons backwards in VW engines piston slap was pretty good and only gained 3Hp,, later on I built a 400m for a guy with forged TRW pistons the complaint was that it had a engine noise,, would not make noise at idle or with wide open but noise on cruise,, give it gas no noise, ,I personally had the engine apart 3 times looking for any signs piston to wall clearance bearing clearance looked everywhere couldn't find any problems,, engine went to another shop they had it apart looking for the noise and couldn't find anything wrong the engine comes back to me a few years later and I was doing another 351/400 engine I checked the pistons from both engines and found out that theTRW forged pistons were marked wrong and installed it the engine backwards,,

[FC-Pilot]

All of the keys issues I was thinking have already been mentioned. Also the limited increase in power is another. If it was for a restricted class and every last H.P. was vital then I would give it a go. For modern stuff where a better cam could net you another 10-20 hp or a better induction system then the couple extra HP gained from installing pistons the other way seems trivial to me.

Then again, that is just me.

Paul

[rebelyell]

JMO
Even if only mild performance is a goal, L2352F is poor choice for a 400 block. YMMV
only for short 5.565 rod, way too heavy, little-to-no quench pad, 4 teeny eyebrows.

AFAIK, that flipping pistons' offset 'round is/was primarily a little trick for use in restricted race classes where only stock-type pistons/cams allowed. It'll slap.

[rustbucket79]

.0055 to .006 mild nos 200 shot

200 shot and mild don’t really belong in the same sentence. If .006 is in reference to piston to wall clearance you will eventually find piston skirt cracks leading from the oil return slots, they are designed for a MUCH tighter fit.

Also, I hope you’ve decked that block, or you will be doing head gaskets sooner rather than later using N2O.

[Mark O'Neal]

Won't make more power. Won't make less either.