I think the added silicone in the 4032 takes the heat really well, it just won't handle detonation as well.

I have Mahle 4032 pistons and once ran lean at the track because my fuel system was inadequate. That day, it went 126 mph and I saw 14:1 on the wide band meter at the top of the track and it was making about 14# of boost. The meth/water injection saved the engine, and I was also still taking a decent amount of timing out. I think the pistons are more durable than people give them credit for, but if you do happen to rattle the engine while making that kind of power, I wouldn't expect the 4032 pistons to live. I'm not sure if I built another blower engine if I would use them again knowing my lack of restraint when it comes to boost, but they do seem like good pistons for a 95% street/ 5% strip car.

 

What worries me is that all of these 4032 pistons seem to break bits off the top ring land with the slightest hint of detonation, especially around any valve reliefs because they're so much more brittle than the unfriendly 2618 slugs. Even when a 4032 piston has a really thick crown up top, it seems like 99% of the time the valve reliefs are cut way too wide and deep on most aftermarket pistons. This leaves barely any material between the relief itself and the top ring groove making it extremely weak. Here's a SRP. Notice how the relief pretty much goes to the edge.



This just seems like bad design and it's not just limited to cheap pistons. I know there have been a number of Mahles with issues in the LS1 crowd too (there was one guy who broke it at 10 psi).

I'd be all for a set of regular dished pistons or D-shaped cups that leave enough material around the top groove and ring land, but I can't seem to find ANYTHING useable on Summit for the comp I want. The other option would be to find pistons where the valve reliefs don't cut too close to the top land and top groove, but what really sucks is that the best "off the shelf" design is from Probe. Ain't that some ****. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too with 4032 unless you pay too much $$$

 

Post up after you do your engine build and let everyone know how it turned out.

 

Any updates?