floating pistons or not?

[import convert]

i was getting pistons for my build and i got ones that are .040" for my grand marquis and theyre full floaters. then i got ones form a mustang that are stock bore but are pressed wrist pins. so im wondering if the lopo motors are floaters or not?


i gues ill return thre mustang pistons and stay with the ones for the lopo. the other thing i need ot find out if i need to bore my block or not. its got over 200,000 miles on it but never burned oil either so im not sure what ill do. i guess i wont know till i take it apart and check it out.

[torquelover]

My pistons were non-floating. When I dipped them in oil before assembly, they definitely sank to the bottom of the can.














Seriously, you need to take the block to a machine shop if you don't have the tools/knowledge to inspect it yourself. With 200k+, a little more than a quick hone with an electric drill will probably be needed. Return the Mustang pistons and hold off on any others until your block is ready to go, and you know for certain what overbore was needed to clean it up.

[gadget73]

stock pistons are not floaters, they'll be press-in pins like the Mustang units. .040 over is a lot of overbore, usually about the end of what you'd want to do on a newer block. Really you would want to see what your motor needs before buying parts for it.

[Mercracer]

i was getting pistons for my build and i got ones that are .040" for my grand marquis and theyre full floaters. then i got ones form a mustang that are stock bore but are pressed wrist pins. so im wondering if the lopo motors are floaters or not?


i gues ill return thre mustang pistons and stay with the ones for the lopo. the other thing i need ot find out if i need to bore my block or not. its got over 200,000 miles on it but never burned oil either so im not sure what ill do. i guess i wont know till i take it apart and check it out.

You will most very likely need to go over on your bore.. You will not know how far until you bring your block in to be checked....
Pistons machined for C-clips/spirolocks is what makes them floaters. All SB pistons allow the wrist pin to slide in and out easily because the rods are press fit. In order to be full floating, you need a bushed rod and pistons machined for retainers... Full floating is not necessary for a low RPM build...

[import convert]

so really the pisotns i to that are floating i cant use with a pressed fit rod? that sucks if i cant. then i have to return both sets i have and get one thats pressed fit. gay!

[Mercracer]

What makes you think that you have floating pistons???? You can use any piston with a press fit rod... I already told you that the only difference in the pistons are the machining of the groove for wrist pin retention

[import convert]

ahhh. i misunderstood that part. a kid i work with says i couldnt use floating pistons on press-fit rods so i was asking around to make sure i could or not. the .040" over pisotns i got are floaters htough and if i have to bore my block i want to make sure theyll work. thats the big question i have or else im geting new pistons.

[ss_mini14]

i wouldn't use floating pins unless you absolutely need to. it is excess reciprocating mass, also if one of the retaining clips were to come loose (which is not uncommon) it destroys the bore

[import convert]

i wouldn't use floating pins unless you absolutely need to. it is excess reciprocating mass, also if one of the retaining clips were to come loose (which is not uncommon) it destroys the bore

really? i figured the retainers could pop out but they shouldd stay in if installed properly

[Mercracer]

i wouldn't use floating pins unless you absolutely need to. it is excess reciprocating mass, also if one of the retaining clips were to come loose (which is not uncommon) it destroys the bore

It is only common if someone installs then who doesn't know what they are doing.... Retaining ring failure is traced back to installation error....

[gadget73]

The pins on my Beetle were floaters, and I managed to install the clips properly when I was 17. Its not real hard, just have to make sure the ring is fully seated into the groove.