I am building up another 4age 20v with low compression pistons and dont know which to buy. JE, Arias or ACL. Anyone got any advice as to which and why ?

Buy from the states and save 40% or more is my only advice.

Oh and see if these guys can help

http://www.importperformanceparts.net/

I bought all my forged engine bits form them. Delivery within a week as well!

David

shame they dpont stock stuff for the 1600 se zetec engine,

I have just got some steel rods brought over that were $250. My mum has a place over there and usually brings something back with her for me. Pity she isnt going back til April now so will have to pay import tax on them. Its just which pistons to buy as every 'expert' has a different favourite. The Arias are the cheapest and off the shelf at $450 but are they any good though ?

Have used JE in four 200hp+ 13,800 rpm GSXR 1000 motors and not had a problem. All were custom made to our own specs. The others I have no experience.

CP , wiseco , amongst others

As this is the locost forum I'll give you my experience. I used the standard cast silvertop pistons in mine with a Rotrex supercharger. So 10.5:1 compression and a standard head gasket and no mapping or detonation issues. They did eventually fail as predicted by cracking on the ring lands but they were never expected to survive anyway.

So I had a set of 8.9:1 4AGZE pistons ready to swap in and simply had some valve recesses flycut to match the 5 valve pattern. Allegedly these aren't necessary but the valves will hit the pistons if timed incorrectly unlike my pistons with the cuts.

These are forged of some sort and anodised (I don't believe they are ceramic coated as often quoted on the internet). They have been used in many applications with a lot of power and appear to be very durable pistons. I paid £36 each for the pistons with a gudeon pin but no rings. Probably even cheaper from the US and brought back in hand luggage.

You can see in the bottom picture the standard cast pistons were fine except for the failed ring lands. They just needed a stronger material and manufacture in thsi area to work. The GZE pistons are very similar but supposedly made in some sort of forging process to make them stronger.

Image deleted by owner


Cracked ring lands

[Edited on 16-12-09 by bimbleuk]