Keith Black Pistons - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

C20-67_N_MO · 08-10-2010, 09:30 PM

I've heard that these pistons are some of the heaviest on the market.

Is this true?

Was told I'd be better off just buying cast Aluminum flat tops vs. dished pistons.

What do you guys think?

Will be running 64cc Aluminum heads which will have about 11:1 compression.

midevil1 · 08-10-2010, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C20-67_N_MO

I've heard that these pistons are some of the heaviest on the market.

Is this true?

Was told I'd be better off just buying cast Aluminum flat tops vs. dished pistons.

What do you guys think?

Will be running 64cc Aluminum heads which will have about 11:1 compression.

Considering Keith Black makes most everybody's pistons. Makes some of the baddest engine's on the planet. I would say if you were buying some of their CHEAP "cast " pistons, then maybe they are heavy. Hyperutectic pistons are usually lighter than forged too. They made me a custom set for my 505 with a set of Hellfire rings and I mean gas ported and all the best tricks for 6 bills when nobody else had time for me.

Also, when my machinist went to balance the pistons. He took little too nothing off them. You wont know your compression until you know what type of piston you will be running. Flattop, dish, or dome.....

63chevyll · 08-10-2010, 09:49 PM

Ive just used two sets of KB's with a -30cc dish with 64cc heads and both have worked well, one in a 400, and the other in a 350, both with vortec heads

just make sure you gap the rings to KB specs

Rodms · 08-10-2010, 11:34 PM

I have to disagree mahle is possibly the best piston and ring on the market today the mm rings in the Dyno tested way higher than all the rest using eagle cranks and rods

midevil1 · 08-11-2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodms

I have to disagree mahle is possibly the best piston and ring on the market today the mm rings in the Dyno tested way higher than all the rest using eagle cranks and rods

Mahle is German and twice the price as KB. I've been thru the factory in Stuttgart, DE. Mahle is top notch but not everybody can spend the money on them......

C20-67_N_MO · 08-11-2010, 11:31 AM

So the issue is still should I stay with the Forged dish pistons by KB or go with some other brand and use flat top cast or Hyper pistons?

Marv D · 08-11-2010, 02:51 PM

IMO the answer is in what else is going into the package. If your considering much track time, any nitrous, forced induction, or spinning it up into the 7k range,, Forget about cast and Hypereutectic, forged is the only 'right' answer there. Sure you can save a few pennies on a budget piston, but at the risk of what???????

If your simply building a driver, want to stab the throttlle a few times now and then, and are staying under and HONEST 1HP per cubic inch,, cast will work just fine.

I am no fan of the hypereutectic pistons from any supplier, but there are many that have built numerous very reliable / durable motors using them. They do run tighter bore clearances, so there quieter and more stable (if your bulding a stroker with a short skirt). But (and just IMO) the hupereutectics are a 'middle of the road' choice at best.

If your using a high quality aftermarket forged crank, And a rod like that from eagle, crower, oliver, your NUTS not using a high quality forged piston. My preferance is JE, but lots of good forged pistons out there.

If your using a stock cast / steel crank, maybe some 'house brand' refurbished rods from one of the big mail order places.. then your silly pitting a $700+ set of pistons swinging around on a $200 arm.

Just remember cast is more forgiving. That goes for cranks as well as pistons. Cast will deform, flex and forgive without breaking,, unlike a forged crank or hypereutectic piston.

C20-67_N_MO · 08-11-2010, 10:05 PM

Will the crank is a cast Scat 400 sbc crankshaft. Stronger than stock and only bought it because they charge $130 to turn cranks and for a few bucks more I can have a better quality crankshaft so that what I did, bought the Scat cast.

Hoping to make around 400 to 450hp with this 406 I am building.

Talked to the speed shop today and I think that the dished forged pistons I had committed to will be my best bet.

63chevyll · 08-11-2010, 10:14 PM

forged is always the way to go, but i thoughtr you were looking for a less expensive piston

chris mc bride · 08-15-2010, 09:52 AM

IMO it pays to put in what will handle 1.5 times what you plan to build power wise. Never know what you will add in future. I always run forged pistons in anything I build.
I know at some point Im going to want to add more power. For me slightly higher cost to start is normaly cheaper in long run.

08-10-2010, 09:30 PM	#1
C20-67_N_MO Champagne Taste on Beer Budget Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: High Ridge, Missouri Posts: 2,190	Keith Black Pistons I've heard that these pistons are some of the heaviest on the market. Is this true? Was told I'd be better off just buying cast Aluminum flat tops vs. dished pistons. What do you guys think? Will be running 64cc Aluminum heads which will have about 11:1 compression. __________________ Coming Soon: Project 1970 Country Truck

08-10-2010, 09:49 PM	#3
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: Keith Black Pistons Ive just used two sets of KB's with a -30cc dish with 64cc heads and both have worked well, one in a 400, and the other in a 350, both with vortec heads just make sure you gap the rings to KB specs

08-10-2010, 11:34 PM	#4
Rodms Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Olive Branch,Mississippi Posts: 347	Re: Keith Black Pistons I have to disagree mahle is possibly the best piston and ring on the market today the mm rings in the Dyno tested way higher than all the rest using eagle cranks and rods __________________ Built chevy tuff!

08-11-2010, 11:31 AM	#6
C20-67_N_MO Champagne Taste on Beer Budget Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: High Ridge, Missouri Posts: 2,190	Re: Keith Black Pistons So the issue is still should I stay with the Forged dish pistons by KB or go with some other brand and use flat top cast or Hyper pistons? __________________ Coming Soon: Project 1970 Country Truck

08-11-2010, 02:51 PM	#7
Marv D Registered Truck Offender Join Date: May 2008 Location: hells training ground (aka Ariz) Posts: 3,118	Re: Keith Black Pistons IMO the answer is in what else is going into the package. If your considering much track time, any nitrous, forced induction, or spinning it up into the 7k range,, Forget about cast and Hypereutectic, forged is the only 'right' answer there. Sure you can save a few pennies on a budget piston, but at the risk of what??????? If your simply building a driver, want to stab the throttlle a few times now and then, and are staying under and HONEST 1HP per cubic inch,, cast will work just fine. I am no fan of the hypereutectic pistons from any supplier, but there are many that have built numerous very reliable / durable motors using them. They do run tighter bore clearances, so there quieter and more stable (if your bulding a stroker with a short skirt). But (and just IMO) the hupereutectics are a 'middle of the road' choice at best. If your using a high quality aftermarket forged crank, And a rod like that from eagle, crower, oliver, your NUTS not using a high quality forged piston. My preferance is JE, but lots of good forged pistons out there. If your using a stock cast / steel crank, maybe some 'house brand' refurbished rods from one of the big mail order places.. then your silly pitting a $700+ set of pistons swinging around on a $200 arm. Just remember cast is more forgiving. That goes for cranks as well as pistons. Cast will deform, flex and forgive without breaking,, unlike a forged crank or hypereutectic piston. __________________ Still playin with trucks, even at my age! When you're dead, it's only a problem for the people around you, because you don't know you're dead. .....It's kinda the same when your STUPID. I just did my taxes and reviewed my SS statement. Thanks to the current administration it looks like I will only have to work till noon on the day of my funeral.

08-11-2010, 10:05 PM	#8
C20-67_N_MO Champagne Taste on Beer Budget Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: High Ridge, Missouri Posts: 2,190	Re: Keith Black Pistons Will the crank is a cast Scat 400 sbc crankshaft. Stronger than stock and only bought it because they charge $130 to turn cranks and for a few bucks more I can have a better quality crankshaft so that what I did, bought the Scat cast. Hoping to make around 400 to 450hp with this 406 I am building. Talked to the speed shop today and I think that the dished forged pistons I had committed to will be my best bet. __________________ Coming Soon: Project 1970 Country Truck

08-11-2010, 10:14 PM	#9
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: Keith Black Pistons forged is always the way to go, but i thoughtr you were looking for a less expensive piston

08-15-2010, 09:52 AM	#10
chris mc bride Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: greensboro nc Posts: 686	Re: Keith Black Pistons IMO it pays to put in what will handle 1.5 times what you plan to build power wise. Never know what you will add in future. I always run forged pistons in anything I build. I know at some point Im going to want to add more power. For me slightly higher cost to start is normaly cheaper in long run.



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