Btw, rocker adjuster came loose on the W150. I'm going to look for spares at salvage yard. Might just pull motor and go through it.
It is leaking oil so might as well. I found a good machine shop locally (or should I say machinist) believe it or not at the machine shop in the carquest autoparts store in Omaha. Real nice shop and is clean,well equipped. Machinist is smart. Good reviews from others I have talked to.

Any opinions on the best cast piston to use for mostly stock rebuild/225.

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1979 W150 Shortbox
225, NP435, 9 1/4, Dana 44

The Good Life.

Most of the current cast pistons are about the same(read cheap) I like to get older ones off ebay or at swap meets (even factory if the bore cleans up). Other thoughts are the Wiseco pistons but they are pricey.
Frank

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Scrapple: Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
73 Duster - Race Car
66 Dart Wagon - DD
178" FED
82 D150
All Slant powered

I have heard Enginetech are good. I used Silvolites in my '68 Dart in 1989 (140k beaten miles now and no oil burn/issues), but no idea of current quality. Badger is supposed to make good cast ones too. My guess is for a stock rebuild and <5000 RPM, it probably doesn't matter much. Good machine work will probably affect more than pistons.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

KS ( Kolbenschmidt-Pierburg) one of the big three in OEM pistons, the other two being Mahle and Federal Mogul, is manufacturing service pistons for sale in the USA under the name Zollner and sold through distributors that carry Hasting brand piston rings. The KS/Zollner pistons are cast and machined in Marinette WI. I don't work for KS, but the company I work for has a more than a few engines running around with KS pistons in them from KS/Marinette,, excellent casting and machining operations,,,certainly not junk. Also not the piston for a 10:1 compression ratio, but for stock or near stock applications, I'll be using Zollner.

Dadtruck Good info. I know the Federal Mogul have had out of round issues.I have seen ads for the Zollner brand ,but no feedback.
Thanks,
Frank

_________________
Scrapple: Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
73 Duster - Race Car
66 Dart Wagon - DD
178" FED
82 D150
All Slant powered

I have heard Zollner are very good too. A good stock piston can take 11:1 if you do things right.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

The thing to look for in a high quality cast piston is the material type and if the piston has steel expansion struts casted into it. (the factory SL6 pistons have struts)
The last set of Enginetech pistons I received had struts.
DD

I think I will look for some of those KS/Zollner pistons. Maybe sourced through my machinist. Any of the big "chain" stores carry them?
(around here are: Oreilly's, Advanced, NAPA, Auto Zone and Carquest).


Another question; How important is the use of a "torque plate" for a street engine with cast pistons?

_________________
1979 W150 Shortbox
225, NP435, 9 1/4, Dana 44

The Good Life.