Ok so Im starting to collect parts for my build. Im putting together a forged bottom end for boost. But I know the forged piston's tend to make a bit of noise on cold starts. I have read some say that the noise goes away after warm then some say they are just noisy all the time.

So my question is there different brands that tend to be less noisy? I know there are a few different factors that come into play. But out of the major brands is there a better pistons to get over the other.

heres the brand's Im considering.
Wiseco
Diamond
Mahle
unless there is a better brand.

Im looking to build something that will have a long healthily life. at this point the plan is the build a 408 with around 9.5.1 or 10.1.1 compression.

Thanks for any info.

 

from what i hear the 2618 aluminum pistons are noisy and not ment for long term street use but there good for high boost or lots of nitrous the 4032 aluminum pistons are more street oriented but not as good for high boost or lots nitrous if you plan on running it on the street id run the 4032 ones IMO.

as far as brands go ones you mentioned are good also JE and SRP make some nice ones basically comes down to what you wanta spend and what you wanta do with them

 

Diamond Racing Forged Piston Set

That is what Texas Speed put in my motor in 2008. No issues at all..

 

OK thanks I knew there were two different materials they made forged pistons out of I just didn't know which one was full on race .

 

The rattle is the piston rocking in the bore. This is due to high tolerance from the piston to cyl wall. It goes away when it warms up because the piston will expand from heat. If the motor is built properly with any of the above pistons you will not have the rattle. We are dealers for all of the pistons mentioned and use hundreds of sets a year, We have never had any of them rattle on start up. Of them the Diamond is going to be the highest quality and Mahle the most budged friendly. The Wiseco is a great piston as well made of the same 2618 material as the diamond. I would choose based on use as they all serve a specific purpose.

 

Ok thank you. the truck noramlly only gets driven on weekends and maybe a few times to the track a year, Im not looking to run a crazy amount of boost or anything. just want the truck to make good power. I really don't forsee the motor seeing more than 15lbs unless I go to the track just to get a good ET. other than that its just a toy on the weekend. but as we all know we always want more power after are current power levels are boring

 

No problem. If you need help putting the parts together or just getting a short block give us a call. We have forged piston and rod motors rated to 800HP starting at $2499 if you want to get something ready to install and have some fun with.

 

Stick with 2618 pistons. Several people have broke the ring land on Mahle dish pistons. The distance from the dish to the inner of the top ring is very short an will break under much boost..

 

It's not necessarily the manufacturer of the piston that causes piston slap, but the material. Now, that said, certain manufacturers only use certain material on their pistons. Others offer both materials.

2618 is a softer material and is good for high HP and boosted/nitrous builds. It has a higher tensile strength but that also comes with a higher expansion rate. Clearances between the piston and the cylinder wall must be made wider to allow room for this expansion therefore, piston slap on cold start-up is more common and much more apparent.

4032 is a harder material. It would be suited more towards every day street use and lower HP builds. It will typically last longer as compared to a 2618. It has a lower tensile strength but expands less, so the piston-to-wall clearance can be reduced lowering the chance of "slap" on cold start-up.

Also, in terms of destruction, the softer 2618 is less likely to crater an engine during failure, whereas a 4032 will pretty much turn itself into shrapnel.

Careful consideration should be taken when selecting a piston for your particular build.

 

Being that a stock piston will hold upwards of 900HP with a decent tune a well designed 4032 piston will take you to the limit of the 4bolt head if things are right. Like said above the mahle pistons that have broke have to do with the design of the dish not the material. The 2618 material is both good and bad for a boosted combo. Will resist det, and stronger material, but like said above has a higher expansion rate. So when boost is introduced it will grow more than the 4032 so clearances that are optimum NA just won't fly and there comes the noise... Piston skirt design, and pin offset also has a lot to do with the noise.