Hi,
which pistons would you prefer? Those from Egge machining or the pistons from one of the vendors (Langs, Snyders...)? I need a set 060 pistons.
Thanks
Michael
Egge pistons, at least the ones made a few years ago, are not the same dimensions as other aluminum pistons. The rings do not come to the top of the bore and thus leave a ridge like a Model A. The top of the piston comes up about .075" higher and will hit a Z high compression head.
What engine are you rebuilding, Michael?
I don't know about today's Egge, but they used to have a local reputation for using old pots and pans and other scrap as their source for aluminum.. The ones I bought from them 12 years ago for use with a Chevy crank had defects.
Frohe Weinachten.
Hi,
i am rebuilding my engine - had a great damage in october. I have run the engine to lean and so 2 pistons are "dead" :-( If you like here are some pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/111792629214263079266/MotorschadenOktober2012?authu ser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNvHzrTarL2rdA&feat=directlink#
Michael
Rings never come to the top of the bore. Amazing ignorance.
Egge is probably the best source for an off the shelf, cast aluminum piston made with decent quality. Jahn's is the only other cast piston made in the USA, and they are also good quality. Ralph you should be ashamed of your self.
The pistons you buy from Langs or Snyders or any of the other vendors typically come from Jahn's, Egge, or China. Ask first, then buy one of the American made brands.
According to wiki, Jahn's doesn't have a website. Do they exist anymore?
Maybe they are still around:
Jahns Quality Pistons
1360 N. Jefferson St.
Anaheim, Ca. 92807
(714) 579-3795
Ralph,
Maybe. Cunningham Connecting Rods web site lists them at
Jahns Quality Pistons
1360 N. Jefferson St.
Anaheim, Ca. 92807
(714) 579-3795
Michael,
I wonder if your pistons did not have enough clearance and galled. I don't think running a Model T engine to lean would cause your problem. I think the fit was too tight and it galled because there was no room for the oil.
Always have had good performance with Egge and Jahns
Per Google maps, there's a warehouse type building at that address, but the name comes up empty. There's no answer at that phone number.
I visited Jahns once a dozen years ago, and didn't get past the reception office. Went to Grant Piston Rings next door, and the Taiwanese VP at Grant was very helpful. They are at 1360 Jefferson St. There was no sign of manufacturing at that location. I had the tour of Egge back then, also.
Just called Grant at 714-996-0050, and the nice young lady said Jahns went out of business a couple of years ago.
Royce, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Guten Morgen Michael!
I have just replaced all four pistons in my 15t. I ordered them from Langs and when they arrived they came well packaged in a sturdy box with a made in taiwan sticker on them.
On inspection the machining quality seemed very good, cam ground and all within 2 grams of each other for a total spread of 6 grams.
You may want to look at my Nov 21 post called "Piston Info and a question"
If I remember right, going to the aluminum pistons saved about 6 lbs of reciprocating weight.
I have not finished the motor work yet (waiting on 2 valves) so I can't offer any comments on how they perform.
Fröhliche Weihnachten
schuh
Hi Michael,
Did you try a honing tool in your cylinders? Were the grooves from the galling too deep?
How does the galled pistons look when you file the high areas smooth?
Sometimes you can get by with just new rings, depending of how severe the damages were.
Michael's earlier thread: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/322924.html?1353327910
Schuh's recent thread on pistons: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/323576.html?1353649977
Jahns is no longer, Grant rings bought them out and when i called them they had no intention of making pistons. sad, good pistons are getting hard to find.
Egge is notorious for putting out sh*& with a high price tag, many of their pistons are designed poorly, ive even heard of guys having engines seize because the cam grind was off 90 degrees.
personally i love Silv-O-Lites, made in USA since 1922. They dont currently list model t pistons, but i know there cast model A pistons are known for being the strongest in the racing world.
wonder how hard it would be to get them to make model t pistons, seeing as thats probably what they started out doing.
How about Ford replacement aluminum pistons? These are 292 Ford Y block but they will work in a T:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-MODEL-A-T-FORD-060-PISTONS-/190676703889?hash=item2c 65379a91&item=190676703889&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr
Other than taking a ~.93 wristpin, is the height right?
They were commonly used in T rebuilds in the past.
This from Les Von Nordheim five years ago:
Sorry for taking so long getting back to you. The 292 pistons are full floating. The Wrist Pin is .910" O.D. .....
.455" I.D. Measuring from the center of wrist pin to top of piston is 1.855".
Measuring from top edge of upper ring groove to top of piston is .385".
"Les"
When I asked my local automotive machinist (Odessa, TX) about using my original 91 year old cast iron pistons, he said they are probably better than new ones.
Imagine that. That is a sad commentary on new parts.
Fellows, if you can't buy quality US made pistons and won't buy Chinese/Taiwanese, you could buy South Australian made JP pistons and rings. You won't like the price though! A bit like buying English Dunlop 30 x 3.5 tyres.
For your info.
Allan from down under.
yeah the taiwanese ones seem to work, but its the principal of the matter, there are lots of piston makers in the U.S, even if we paid 250 a set i wouldnt mind if they were quality U.S made.
maybe i should write silvolite and see if they can make them.
How about Aries? They claim on their site to make everything from a 1915 Stutz to a 1911 Locomobile. and they're pretty in more ways than one!
How about Ross pistons? I know they're rather expensive but are US made I believe. Is there any quality advantage to using them compared to other brands?
any of the forged suppliers ie ross, aries, wiseco, JE etc. can make custom pistons, for a v8 it usually runs about $1100. most of that cost is probably set up and design, so the price probably isnt far off from that for 4 pistons.
Check RossPistons.com . They may have a stock number for T pistons, which brings them down to about $100 each, last I knew.
I bought a used set of Ross for Chevy crank in a T. They came with the crank and 3 rods. It had thrown the fourth rod while racing. Ross supplied thin wristpins like is used with full floating pins. Clamping will distort them. Chevy pistons and modern Ford pistons come with pins that are much thicker through the center, to withstand clamping. I believe T pins are thick all the way through. I've never used T rods, so not sure.
rdr
JE HQ is about a mile from me, in an industrial park. I believe the pistons are made by the ChiComs.
that would suck if they are! JE's are some of the most expensive there are. and some of the best!
btw all the speed pro and federal mogul stuff is made in China. i highly dislike fedmog,they bought out alot of good names shut em down then made all their crap in china. TRW and Muskegon comes to mind.
I used Venolia pistons in my Henderson, very pleased with them. They can copy any piston. I thought the price was not to bad, considering custom made forged piston's. 2160 Cherry industrial circle, Long Beach, Ca. 90805 (562) 636 - 9329
JE makes its pistons in the shop. Nothing made by JE comes from China. Ralph you are a real jerk to say something like that.
When did you tour a shop at JE, Royce?
I have a friend who works at JE. The guys at JE, Venolia and Arias are all inter related. All make great stuff, and all can trace their heritage to Nick Arias.
I have purchased numerous sets of custom pistons from JE, Arias, Ross, Venolia and Wiseco over the years to build 427 / 428CJ Fords. All are excellent quality but spending that kind of money on a 20 horsepower Model T engine is stupid. The set of Ross pistons in my most recent 427 side oiler cost $559.00 including pins, locks and a set of Plasma moly Childs & Albert rings.
The last two Model T rebuilds of mine used excellent quality Egge pistons, made in USA by Americans. The set costs about $100 including rings and pins.
I am not in this fray but lots of two cycle engines use an L shape top ring---it comes right to the top of the piston. Lots of HP from a 15 inch engine, more then a 176 inch T.
L shaped ring are supposed to seal better because there is more area for the gas to push the rings against the cylinder wall. I have made several model airplane engines from scratch. I machined the pistons from 6061 bar stock. I made the rings from good quality cast iron bar. I broke the rings to make the gap then put a piece of material in the gap. I then heated the rings to red and this set the gap so that the rings pressed against the cylinder wall. It took several tries to get a good ring.