Best forged pistons and rods on V6 turbo?

[david_h 0]

unfortunately my engine expired on Saturday, a host of running problems including over/under fueling and over boosting early on probably weakened the engine. I'd just got it running perfectly on C2 management when it blew its guts.

Yet to pull it apart but it sounds like it's done a rod.

To increase reliability I thought I would uprate the pistons and rods. Can anyone give me any suggestions as to where to buy and what brands. I want straight drop in 81mm pistons to retain the block thickness on the V6.

Schimmel do the rods and pistons on their site, they look ok but not sure what I should be looking for. Pistons are JE.

Will be running around 1bar of boost maximum.

Many thanks in advance.

[FishWick 21]

I recommend Wossner forged pistons. Stealth Racing can supply those.

I'd be surprised if a rod has bent with 1 bar boost. Did you over boost it temporarily?

Wossner also do some nice rods. The Crower ones Bill Schimmel use are nice too, and cheaper due to the favourable exchange rate.

It's the proper way to do things. I don't like spacers and other short cuts personally.

[david_h 0]

I recommend Wossner forged pistons. Stealth Racing can supply those.

I'd be surprised if a rod has bent with 1 bar boost. Did you over boost it temporarily?

Wossner also do some nice rods. The Crower ones Bill Schimmel use are nice too' date=' and cheaper due to the favourable exchange rate.

It's the proper way to do things. I don't like spacers and other short cuts personally.

[/quote']

During the build up/initial running the engine has suffered from overboosting to 1.5bar and the worst map in history.

I think these inital problems conspired to kill the engine.

The JE pistons from Bill Schimmel will be a lot cheaper than anything from Stealth, is there any reason I should not buy these?

I know plenty of people that use a standard bottom end and spacer gasket but like you say it's cutting corners. We live and learn, hopeful it won't go bang again if I uprate the internals.

[FishWick 21]

That's quite a sizable boost spike then!. A "built" engine would be better able to withstand that kind of pressure.

If the boost fuelling and timing aren't c0ck on with standard pistons, they will melt like cheese. Forged pistons can take more punishment.

Nothing wrong with the JEs. They're a little loose in the bores to reduce friction, so I hope you don't have an allergy to cold morning piston slap. The "Total Seal" rings aren't particularly nice to install either, so your engine builder should preferably have experience of this kind of work before.

I used the JE 83.5mm pistons initially, but I chose the American aggressvie run in method, which bit me in the bum and scratched cylinder 6, writing off the block.

The Wossners have been perfect. They were designed by a VR6 Turbo owner, for VR6 Turbo owners, so he put a lot of development into them. They also have low friction skirts. The JE's do not.

It's up to you. My choice would be Wossner.