Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

The engine I want to build is a 1974 460 Ford. However, there are no approved pistons on the NHRA list for that engine.

How do I get pistons that are legal ?

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Email Travis, He should be able to help you, he is on this forum, look him up. Or call the div tech dir Ritch Bowers 7656898377 Mon -Thur 9am - 5pm

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

I would guess you would send a stock unmodified piston and the piston you want approved to Glendora tech dept for approval.That's what I did to get the pistons approved for my engine.Can't see anyother way to do it.Unless they pull out the West Coast rule
book.:>):>)

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Ed,,,There is a gentleman in Kentucky with a "West Coast" rulebook in his posession,, I think he picked it up on the western swing.
Danny Durham

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

It's kinda like the Holy Grail.:>):>)

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

You choose a piston company that makes Stock Eliminator pistons, and you call them. You tell them what you're doing, and they'll take care of it from there. Of course, NHRA can cause you a problem or two along the way (don't ask how I know that, it's an ugly story).

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

i'm having the same issues w/ a 290 amc engine...
right now, it's lack of $$$ to get the ball rolling but thanks to Ed F., i've got a correct piston to send the mfgr...

i'll be watching this thread;)

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

It's simple, just provide a piston manufacturer with an OEM piston & pin. They will make the replacement piston & submit both the OEM piston and replacement piston to NHRA for approval. Contact JE, CP or other piston manufacturers that offer NHRA legal replacement pistons.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

A faster way is to send a picture of the piston to some one you know here in div. 6 or 7. We could OK it over our lunch meetings we all have with Gracia several times a week to update the West Coast Rule book. Piece a cake. If you guys weren't so funny this would be a boring day.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Harry,
A friend of mine had her 23 year old son pass away suddenly last week, the wake was tough so please don't make them stop. Where else can we go for a good, quick, laugh to brighten our day?

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

So sorry to hear about the son. That has to be the worst. There would be nothing tougher than to bury a child. I don't want to think about it.

I agree totally about the humor helping the healing process or just a general improvement to a person's day. No disrepect to the family that lost the son, but additional laughs can be found on the NHRA website under their Stock Car Classification category under the Competition section. Just look under for the 2008 & 2010 Ford section and the 2010 Dodge section. You will be in tears.

Don

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

ain't that the truth

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Alan,
Here is the solution....There’s no sense worring over the 290 AMC piston deal…you can call Herman Adkins at (304) 273-2495. Hemmie did that motor for Garrett Ghezzi that’s a real fast SS/MA with a 290.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Now, that's funny no matter what coast you live on!

JimR

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Tom is looking for a Stock Eliminator piston which requires NHRA / IHRA approval of a P/N.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

I realized he is building a stocker...It might be beneficial to make the call

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Well, I contacted the 3 piston companies that currently have legal pistons for the 429 Ford.

I am still confused how the SS/GT guys running the Ford 460 have gotten their pistons approved ??? :confused:

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Super Stock has different piston rules.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Yeah, I just got the same answer from Greg @ JE in an e-mail.
Looks like this process will take awhile....LOL

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

I was not kidding you when I said it took me 9 months. Randy Gillis at JE did mine.

Just to be VERY clear, very little fault lies at the feet of JE for the time it took to get my pistons approved. NHRA was in the foot dragging mode when mine were submitted. So it took quite a while to get the first approval. I had two sets. Then NHRA decided that, while the JE was to their spec, the dome was "too close to spec to be easily measured in the field". Seriously, they said my domes were the correct height, but since they were at spec, they might fail tech in the field, so approval was withdrawn. Two sets of pistons went back. New pistons were made and submitted, then two new sets were made for me. Supposedly tech guys cannot measure to the thousandth of an inch in the field. In my opinion, I'm sure Wesley Roberson, Dave Ley, Harry Ferrari, or Travis Miller would be perfectly capable of measuring my domes to the nearest thousandth of an inch.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

didnt have too much trouble with the witch doctor pistons, ross made them nhra approved them in about 5 weeks... went thru bruce

jack

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Alan--I sent you a PM --Comp 387

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

That will give you time to get a second job to pay for them and the tricky dickie rings you'll need.
You might want to try my piston co.The Fred Flintstone Forging Co. in Bed Rock Ca.They have a direct line to Danny Gs office.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Maybe things have changed but I had great success with CP pistons turn around time, even on pistons not previously approved for Stock.
My Super Stock engine got a set of Diamond pistons in about three weeks (which do not require NHRA approval).
Along the lines of what Ed said, on some engines it can get real costly with rings if it is an odd size. My 390 AMC being one of them. I ran a 4.230" bore in Stock and I spent a lot of $$ on rings and spacers to run the 1.2mm width. It may be more cost effective to run a smaller bore if it is a more common ring size. All depends on if your after every hundredth in ET or not.
Now NHRA allows +.075 which is 4.240" for my 390. What that means to me is I can use a 4.250" ring package which will file down nicely. That gets me rings for a few hundred dollars instead of over a thousand dollars.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Pardon my AMC stupidity, but a 4.23 bore is pretty big (thinking 427 Ford here) so what does that make the crank stroke to be 390 CI. No scientific information to prove it's any better but I've always liked the big bore/short stroke idea..

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

About 3.4 inches I believe.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

AMC 390 stock bore / stroke is 4.165" / 3.574" and by the time your done boring & stroking it for NHRA competition it's around 402".
The 401 AMC is 4.165" x 3.68"
And yes, 4.230" bore is standard FE 427.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Thanks Jeff.

I am familiar with FE stuff (have a couple) but am quite surprised at the big bore/short stroke of an AMC 390. Learn something every day.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

I'm good, I don't need a set for a while.

My delays had very little to do with JE, and quite a lot to do with NHRA. See the explanation above.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

So, you don't have to give them a piston?

I had to donate a Scat rod to get them approved.

Got a BowTie block PN approved last year, sure was thankful I didn't have to buy an extra block! <G>

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

It took 10 months to get the Ross 2.5 Stocker pistons approved for my FWD Spirit! It ain't easy! Jim

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Ed, I'd say the price I paid for two sets of pistons included the cost of donating samples to NHRA.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Yes, NHRA and the piston company need an OEM sample to work with.
Jim, Maybe a 2.5 is an off the wall (wahl? :rolleyes: ) forging or blank size and that's why it took so long.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

I don't doubt it. Wesley told me they keep a sample in Glendora for reference.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Yep, you are correct sir. Shorter piston than the 2.2 (but you probably knew that). Not complaining about the time it took, just saying nothing gets done over night! BTW Jeff, you so funny (off the wall). Jim

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

I was drinking a Harvey Wahlbanger when I came up with that...:rolleyes:

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

I'll bet you were listening to Pink Floyd's "The Wahl".at the time.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Don,

The folks I've raced with lost their teenage daughter some years back and I can't imagine how tough that is.

Re: Stocker pistons; If none are on the approved list, what to do?
 

Oh you guys! I'm really feeling the love in here! Jim


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