Are forged pistons overkill on a steert n/a 383

 

If youre only shooting for about 400 rwhp then yes I would say forged is not needed.

 

All I am looking for is better than stock.

 

This would be best discussed in a LT1 Tech, transfering.

 

Get forged, the price difference isnt much, and you'll have em in case you decide for more power

 

You can get some Keith Blacks from summit for CHEAP - ~20 bucks each = $160. Or, you can get some SRPs for 500ish.

Stockers aren't bad for NA.

Some people don't like the weight of the forged TRWs tho. I'm not an engine builder (or very smart for that matter ), so I can't say which is best .

 

the TRWs are a bit heavy BUT in my nova we consistently every pass were shifting a set at 7800rpm, so the weight didn't seem to bother it much

 

Good bolts.

 

EXACTLY!!! That was my thinking.

 

I would never recommend building a performance engine with cast pistons. AS already mentioned the priced difference is not that much more on the lower end forged pistons, but the added strength is worth it.

I wouldn't build a stroker with a cast crank either.

 

I'll take my little 383 for instance , I never plan on boosting it and if I run nitrous a 100 shot will be the limit, but why, I'm already killing stuff that alot of people would dream of running WITH.

I spent only 2500$ on my shortblcok, my money went into heads and valvetrain, get those right and dont overspeed the engine and you'll have it virtually forever.

goto your machine shop and ask them how many cast cranks on rebuilds they find cracked compared to forged.

Build the short blcok for your intentions, not your dreams and save some cash. A blower motor is another cookie alltogether, just ask the people that take a motor built for N/A that stick one on there.

Lets just say you put forged pistons in now and run N/A simply because you plan on (who knows how long down the road) adding a supercharger. In the meantime unless you use a higher compression forged piston, your stuck with a low compression pig. And if you do go the high compression , youre then limited on the boost.

See where I'm going here.?

i would build your motor for what you intend to do with it now, head and cam can be further upgraded in the car, but to build a motor for a purpose starts with the shortblock.

Ask a few of the blown 383s what they would do different, and I guarantee you high compression is not one of the things they would do if they intend to run the boost later. Then you are stuck with what you built until the boost is added later.

 

Forged pistons will have more clearance also and could allow for more oil consumption (cold start piston slap) than Hyper pistons. Usually Hypers like Keith Black are lighter than forged, but are more brittle. I would use KB pistons due to less clearance and lighter, if running N/A it will be fine... If you spray or go F/I it is a no brainer to use Forged pistons.