Hello,
We are putting a T together from parts left over from a couple of restorations. It's going to mostly be used around town and at the local steam & gas show.
We have a set of "Tin can" pistons and matching rods. Are these OK to use or should we use cast iron pistons and regular rods?
Thanks,
Howard
If "tin can" means aluminum, I believe that's what's usually used. The old cast iron pistons are used for testing magnets.
i think hes refering to the pressed steel ones and the x beam rods.
if you can find ring for them why not? i think it would be cool.
Just a quote from a engine reconditioning book.
'Tin being of a soft nature, will flow or smear under temperature and pressure, should undue conditions arise. In most cases the tin eventually wears off, and it is obvious why the piston clearances recommended should not be allowed over and above the tin coating.'
.0005 to .001 per side.
Kerry - it's not tin plated pistons Howard refers to.. As Matthew writes Ford made stamped steel pistons welded together out of several parts for some replacement engines after Model T production was stopped in 1927. It may have been an experiments for Model A production that didn't turn out well - I think they went back to cast iron pistons on later replacement engines but kept the "X" rods up until 1941? (Anybody who can affirm or refute? 15007xxx to 15076xxx were made in 1927 after production was stopped, 15076xxx to 15176888 were made 1928-1941)
Here is Jim Sims picture of two versions of the "tin can" pistons from an earlier thread: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/74837.html?1228752482
Interesting, so just a nick name.
They are pretty light-weight compared even to the aluminum pistons. If I was just putting a motor together out of spare parts for occasional usage, I would try them if I had a set of four that were good enough to use. However, I would not use them in a "completely rebuilt, balanced, and blueprinted" motor, or something I expected to drive a few thousand miles per year.
I don't have any experience with pressed steel pistons for Model T's or A's but do have experience with pressed steel pistons used in other engines. They are usually not very well made and don't fit well in the cylinders. They also have a tendency to warp. The only thing good about them is that they are really cheap. Forged aluminum pistons are the best. They need to be oval ground to compensate for uneven expansion.
Neil