This is topic Notching pistons.... in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
Anyone ever notched their pistons? I need advice and tips on how to do it since I guess I won't clear the stock pitstons with my heads.
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
Check it before going down the route of spending money on something you may not need. There's a lot of factors that go into PTV clearance.

You can check it yourself with some really basic tools ($40 worth).

Check out my build thread. It'll give you an idea of what you need and how to check it. http://californiafords.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=054272#000000

[ 2014-10-24, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: wilit ]
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
im gona leave this here, u never notched pistons, but am going to attempt it?
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Duncan Motors:
im gona leave this here, u never notched pistons, but am going to attempt it?
Yeah. So you're telling me you've built a motor before the first time you built one? Didn't think so. Everyone has a first attempt at everything.

Now I plan on notching my pistons because from what I read online stating that my valves on my heads are too big for the reliefs on the stock pistons. I have not attempted to check my PTV yet because I'm waiting for my head bolt bushings to show up for my heads.
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by NEIGHT:
quote:
Originally posted by Duncan Motors:
im gona leave this here, u never notched pistons, but am going to attempt it?
Yeah. So you're telling me you've built a motor before the first time you built one? Didn't think so. Everyone has a first attempt at everything.

Now I plan on notching my pistons because from what I read online stating that my valves on my heads are too big for the reliefs on the stock pistons. I have not attempted to check my PTV yet because I'm waiting for my head bolt bushings to show up for my heads.
What you read online and reality are usually vastly different. My combo, according to the Intarwebz, should have required notching. But if you check out my thread, they barely made an indentation in the clay. If you need help checking, let me know. I can bring my tools to help you out.

EDIT: Wait, don't you have an '86 shortblock?

[ 2014-10-24, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: wilit ]
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by wilit:
quote:
Originally posted by NEIGHT:
quote:
Originally posted by Duncan Motors:
im gona leave this here, u never notched pistons, but am going to attempt it?
Yeah. So you're telling me you've built a motor before the first time you built one? Didn't think so. Everyone has a first attempt at everything.

Now I plan on notching my pistons because from what I read online stating that my valves on my heads are too big for the reliefs on the stock pistons. I have not attempted to check my PTV yet because I'm waiting for my head bolt bushings to show up for my heads.
What you read online and reality are usually vastly different. My combo, according to the Intarwebz, should have required notching. But if you check out my thread, they barely made an indentation in the clay. If you need help checking, let me know. I can bring my tools to help you out.

EDIT: Wait, don't you have an '86 shortblock?
So 2.02 vavles will clear a stock piston? No, I have never had a '86 shortblock.
 
Posted by CornOil_&_Boost (Member # 5888) on :
 
Afr 185s should clear stock pistons...depends on your cam as well.

But check it with clay. ..
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by CornOil_&_Boost:
Afr 185s should clear stock pistons...depends on your cam as well.

But check it with clay. ..
Yeah I was gonna check either way but it's just that I saw online that the valves were too big for the piston anyways. But I guess maybe that was a myth or something? I'll check it out.
 
Posted by wilit (Member # 3367) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by NEIGHT:
quote:
Originally posted by wilit:
quote:
Originally posted by NEIGHT:
quote:
Originally posted by Duncan Motors:
im gona leave this here, u never notched pistons, but am going to attempt it?
Yeah. So you're telling me you've built a motor before the first time you built one? Didn't think so. Everyone has a first attempt at everything.

Now I plan on notching my pistons because from what I read online stating that my valves on my heads are too big for the reliefs on the stock pistons. I have not attempted to check my PTV yet because I'm waiting for my head bolt bushings to show up for my heads.
What you read online and reality are usually vastly different. My combo, according to the Intarwebz, should have required notching. But if you check out my thread, they barely made an indentation in the clay. If you need help checking, let me know. I can bring my tools to help you out.

EDIT: Wait, don't you have an '86 shortblock?
So 2.02 vavles will clear a stock piston? No, I have never had a '86 shortblock.
It's possible they'll clear. Really depends on how deep the pistons are in the hole, head gasket thickness, cam specs, rocker arm ratio, cam timing. Sometimes you can advance or retard a cam to gain the clearance you need. It's not a hard and fast rule that a 2.02 intake requires a notched piston.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
It's a trickflow stage 1 cam and I'm going to use 1.6 roller rockers with 9333 PT-1 gaskets.
 
Posted by 4IDFOX (Member # 9921) on :
 
I have ran edelbrock heads with 2.02 valves, tfs1 cam and 1.7 rockers on stock pistons and it worked fine. I did check with clay first though.

If I remember right I was wanting to move the cam timing but it would not work. Had to be straight up. It was that tight.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by 4IDFOX:
I have ran edelbrock heads with 2.02 valves, tfs1 cam and 1.7 rockers on stock pistons and it worked fine. I did check with clay first though.

If I remember right I was wanting to move the cam timing but it would not work. Had to be straight up. It was that tight.
Well since I'm running 1.6 rockers I hope to have a little more clearance.
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
I had a teacher, I was under supervision. I am not a Internet mechanic. I didnt think so. even tho I applaud your thoughts an efforts, good luck. you where having dan build your motor an u want to notch your own pistons? I dont even notch pistons. an yes some 202 valve heads clear stock pistons but u probably havent even clayed them to find out yet, read that up on google first before notching pistons.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
Well I built my whole car(I tore it all completely apart, suspension and all) by myself without even a hand to help me drop in the motor or do anything so far. I don't see notching pistons being too hard to do as long as I take my time. But I guess since I was having someone put together a motor for me I am not qualified to even do a oil change since I'm a internet mechanic. And you are right I haven't flayed anything yet because I'm still waiting for a couple parts to come in so I can check it then start it up.
 
Posted by Camara90 (Member # 134) on :
 
I think you will clear with that cam, but as you know you need to check first. If you need the clearance I have had friends use the isky tool to notch pistons with success on their 5.0.
 
Posted by Secnd2nun64 (Member # 1431) on :
 
Cometic has thicker head gaskets if you need more clearance.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Camara90:
I think you will clear with that cam, but as you know you need to check first. If you need the clearance I have had friends use the isky tool to notch pistons with success on their 5.0.
Well this week should be moment of truth to see if I clear or not. When you guys check do you guys just reuse the old head gasket to check or the new ones? I was planning on using the old head gasket to check PTV.
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
read or google up on claying for clearance, then that will tell u what your working with. that's number one. if u have a problem an its noty gona work where notching needs to be done, the clay ass well show u where its gona hit, then u gotta make sure the piston will have respectable room to even be cut in that area, most aftermarket pistons are light which means they remove a lot of material where its not needed, most of the time u can see the contours of the piston from the under side, those are dangerous an not advised to cut, sense your working with stock pistons, and why u would run such a big valve on a stock piston is again odd, regardless those stock pistons are big and heavy and should have alot of material to still be safe to cut, now i take it your gona prob cut the pistons in the block? try not to get the shavings in the ring lands or oil galleries.

no u cant reuse head gaskets, but with out a head gasket u can clay it, then what ever measurement u get add the compressed measurement of the head gasket.
I dont do this because i have my combos figured out before I get that far, an most stock pistons aren't worth moving that much air to need that big a vavle. kinda un matched which come back to proper planning. good luck post some pic of the finished product.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
I understand the claying part and all that I was just unsure if I should use the old head gaskets just to only check PTV so I don't have to mess with the new head gaskets until everything is ready to go. And about unmatched well I got a awesome deal on these heads and the bottom end is only temporary while I build something for a year or two from now depending how long this holds up.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
What do you guys use to clean the carbon off the pistons?
 
Posted by hurting your feelings (Member # 13641) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by NEIGHT:
What do you guys use to clean the carbon off the pistons?
Atf
 
Posted by jmcclesk (Member # 1355) on :
 
yes you can use old head gaskets for claying and for cutting the valves.

when cutting use tape across the entire piston to keep metal from getting in the tops of the pistons

use a collar on the cutting tool and feeler gauges so you can keep the depth the same.

I have made a .070 cut in hyper-u-pistons with no problems. 300+ 1/4 mile passes and lots of street driving
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jmcclesk:
yes you can use old head gaskets for claying and for cutting the valves.

when cutting use tape across the entire piston to keep metal from getting in the tops of the pistons

use a collar on the cutting tool and feeler gauges so you can keep the depth the same.

I have made a .070 cut in hyper-u-pistons with no problems. 300+ 1/4 mile passes and lots of street driving
Cool, thanks!

Unfortunately I still haven't got to check PTV clearance because I'm an idiot and thought my rockers were stud mount so now I'm going to order some from corral. I like the spring compressor tool though. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Phatboy5.0 (Member # 11043) on :
 
Neght,u did not built ur car u b on that BS. U notching pistons
Lmfao lern how to b a man fist PUTO.
 
Posted by NEIGHT (Member # 8741) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Phatboy5.0:
Neght,u did not built ur car u b on that BS. U notching pistons
Lmfao lern how to b a man fist PUTO.
Quit talking like you know shit you ain't even turn a wrench puto. Get off my nuts gorda
 
Posted by 1fastmach1 (Member # 10137) on :
 
I ran Afr 185 heads with f-303 1.72 RR with stock short block with no problem
 
Posted by Bulletsponge (Member # 9529) on :
 
I also ran AFR heads, 2.02 with a F303 & 1.7's.. 91 Shortblock, .30 over OE Pistons not notched.
 
Posted by SmokinLX (Member # 1684) on :
 
Bought my short block from Eric "66 AC cobra" 306, f cam, afr 185's and pistons had to be notched so definatley depends on each individual application!
 




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