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I got an '02 Gen III top end, now I need some pistons. Stock gets me 9.6:1 compression right? I might supercharge, but with low boost (<10 psi), so I should be fine with stock pistons, right?
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'98 Volvo V90 - Ford 5.0 swap in progress
'96 LR Range Rover 4.6 HSE - suspiciously reliable
'92 Volvo 740 Wagon - former parts car, now daily-driver beater
'71 Opel Kadett Wagon - 1.9L CIH w/ Weber DGV 32/36, in bits -
As long as you have a way to up your fuel/retard your timing you shouldn't have a problem, for awhile. With the 3.1s and 3.4s the head gasket pops first, then the pistons go. But if you have a way to adjust for the boost, and don't go crazy... Shouldn't have a lot of problem. But there is a lot of work involved in going Forced Induction. Personally, if you're in the process of building an engine, decide now while the engine is out the route you want to go, or start writing down where you want to be and give yourself a time frame. Going boost isn't just slapping together a couple of parts and putting a boost gauge on your car... If i knew that sooner I wouldn't have gone FI
You may or may not know 10 times what i do.
ASE Master certified. Just means I can take tests. GM ASEP Graduate.
95' Z26, ported/cammed 3400/3500, OBD2, 282, T3T4. Boxes almost all empty.. -
It's a truck engine, so I want my torques.
So ya really think I need forged pistons and an MLS gasket for say, 5-7 psi boost? My machinist says you can usually put about 10 psi to a stock engine (with a tune of course)... but y'all know more about the 60º.'98 Volvo V90 - Ford 5.0 swap in progress
'96 LR Range Rover 4.6 HSE - suspiciously reliable
'92 Volvo 740 Wagon - former parts car, now daily-driver beater
'71 Opel Kadett Wagon - 1.9L CIH w/ Weber DGV 32/36, in bitsComment
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Your machinist is pretty smart. Most boost write ups and books say that 10 psi on a stock engine is safe...to a point. For 5-7 I personally wouldn't worry about forged pistons or MLS
. Just make sure you have a way to tune for the boost. What causes the stuff to break is detonation. Adjust the timing, add fuel with the extra air and you should be okay, as long as your EGTs don't go through the roof, which they shouldn't if you don't go lean 
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You may or may not know 10 times what i do.
ASE Master certified. Just means I can take tests. GM ASEP Graduate.
95' Z26, ported/cammed 3400/3500, OBD2, 282, T3T4. Boxes almost all empty..Comment
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Awesome! So I'm still looking for a set of 3400 pistons. Anyone?'98 Volvo V90 - Ford 5.0 swap in progress
'96 LR Range Rover 4.6 HSE - suspiciously reliable
'92 Volvo 740 Wagon - former parts car, now daily-driver beater
'71 Opel Kadett Wagon - 1.9L CIH w/ Weber DGV 32/36, in bitsComment
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I still have those pistons. Turbo Project hasn't answered me since I sent him pics.Comment
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I don't have my pistons out yet, maybe this weekend. You can send me the pics of yours if you like. I'll PM my email address.'98 Volvo V90 - Ford 5.0 swap in progress
'96 LR Range Rover 4.6 HSE - suspiciously reliable
'92 Volvo 740 Wagon - former parts car, now daily-driver beater
'71 Opel Kadett Wagon - 1.9L CIH w/ Weber DGV 32/36, in bitsComment
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Use the 2003+ GM graphite headgaskets. You'll be fine with 5-7psi on stock stuff.sigpic
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1994 3100 BERETTA. 200,000+ miles
16.0 1/4 mile when stock. Now ???
Original L82 Longblock with LA1, LX9, LX5 parts
Manifold-back 2.5" SS Mandrel Exhaust. Hardware is SS too.
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