TRW L2293 .030

[67charger383]

Ok so what's the deal with everyone saying these are insanely heavy pistons? Y'all made me think these were forged steel but I got them in the mail today and they were forged aluminum and were lighter than stock flat tops. Are these still strong pistons? I don't want them to break if the 383 ever gets nitrous in the future.

 

[Charger Dana]

You’ll likely break the crank before the pistons. 11.40 @122 though without juice! They’ll make good power. Relatively heavy compared to newer custom ones. Spin it to 7,000 or so, and it’ll surprise a few 440s at the big end.

 

[33 IMP]

Absolutely nothing wrong with those pistons, just not much call for that much compression in a standard stroke 383, and hard to find even if that is what is wanted. And really only heavy compared to a new custom piston.
I would say that they were absolutely perfect nitrous pistons!

 

[qkcuda]

Those are good forgings. My buddy used to use the similar 340 pistons and milled most of the dome off, still plenty of meat on the crown.

 

[33 IMP]

If those are like my 2295s (440) there's plenty of meat in the heads to put in more valve reliefs if neccessary too.

 

[gkent]

Those are like 12:1 compression aren't they ?!?!? Also 50-year old dies so that might explain some of the weight compared to a present day forging.

 

[33 IMP]

Those are like 12:1 compression aren't they ?!?!? Also 50-year old dies so that might explain some of the weight compared to a present day forging.

Yep, they can be up to 12-1 with a closed chamber head and a zero deck. But, since they are solid dome, with a nice thick head, they can be machined to anything you want, down below 9-1 if thats what you want. Lots easier than trying to go up from a 7.5/8-1 rebuilder piston.

 

[gkent]

Has there EVER been a forged "steel" piston ?!?!?

 

[67charger383]

Has there EVER been a forged "steel" piston ?!?!?

Yes. And TRW made some but apparently these weren't.

 

[RemCharger]

A magnet will help figuring out if they're aluminum or not.

 

[DGE330/NC]

enough clearance in the 915's with the dome?

 

[Lefty71]

As I said in your other thread about these....just did a build with those exact pistons, 383 with 915's. So, in my mind anyway, they are fine for an old school build. They are heavy, but not too crazy heavy to use, and they are tough old slugs. One thing to remember tho, they are an older technology, and your motor builder will probably want them a little sloppier in the hole than a new style forging, because those will grow a little farther as they heat up. The end result is a little more noise on start (and you should be careful a such). All that being said, run 'em, you wont regret it! I know I would.

 

[oldkimmer]

Always build some heat into the motor b4 u run it hard. I’ve had 2 motors with them. Kim

 

[Cranky]

I machined 200 grams from under the head of a set of flat tops and the guy used nitrous without any problems. What is somewhat skeptical of doing that but he was willing to give it a shot too.

 

[Beep!Beep!]

If those are like my 2295s (440) there's plenty of meat in the heads to put in more valve reliefs if neccessary too.

That's the pistons that are in my build I'm just starting the 2295s,just posted the cam setup Hughes suggested, good to know

 

[67charger383]

As I said in your other thread about these....just did a build with those exact pistons, 383 with 915's. So, in my mind anyway, they are fine for an old school build. They are heavy, but not too crazy heavy to use, and they are tough old slugs. One thing to remember tho, they are an older technology, and your motor builder will probably want them a little sloppier in the hole than a new style forging, because those will grow a little farther as they heat up. The end result is a little more noise on start (and you should be careful a such). All that being said, run 'em, you wont regret it! I know I would.

Lol I'm my own engine builder. In a garage with harbor freight hand tools and engine books from the '70s

 

[Beep!Beep!]

Lol I'm my own engine builder. In a garage with harbor freight hand tools and engine books from the '70s

Hey doing on your own only way,well not my body and paint, do all you can!

 

[Meep-Meep]

Those old TRWs are good and are lighter than stock. I've cut the domes off the 440 version with no problems. If you do that on a 383 you can get zero deck and with a 915 head that will be right around 9.5:1 CR with a composition gasket.

 

[67charger383]

Those old TRWs are good and are lighter than stock. I've cut the domes off the 440 version with no problems. If you do that on a 383 you can get zero deck and with a 915 head that will be right around 9.5:1 CR with a composition gasket.

I'm keeping the dome. It'll be E85 converted anyway. It'll be a "street car". Only ever driven to the track or the hour and a half to Carlisle.

 

[oldkimmer]

I had 1 383 decked and 452 heads milled. The compression cane out to 13.3. It was nasty sounding. It had a Crower .540 lift cam. I have to say it was the second meanest sounding car I ever had. Only my super stock 440 sounded meaner with the old cheater cam. Kim