Keith Black pistons
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 80
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From: Texas
Keith Black pistons
What do you guys think about using 351c Keith Black flat top pistons in a 400.
Also what needs to be done to make them work with this engine. All help or advice would be appreciated.
thanks Billy
Also what needs to be done to make them work with this engine. All help or advice would be appreciated.
thanks Billy
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Arcadia US
I personally like KB pistons, my friend has raced for years on dirt tracks and never had one wear out or break compared to any other piston he used. I can't say for sure what you'll need to do. I have a 351W and it had dished pistons, when I built it up, I put KB flat tops in it, I had the heads CC'd to make sure I would have the proper compression ratio, I believe a windsor and a mod are both relatively low compression motors in the late 70's and early 80's so it would probably work fine, just more of a chance of the engine pinging with the higher compression.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,416
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From: PacNW
Any stock replacement piston you buy is going to sit at least +/- .060" down in the cylinder and since Tim Meyer has come out with his new flat tops there are better choices out there that don't require any modifications.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 404
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From: Indiana
I have clevland full floating piston's in my 400.No problem's at all.I had to get the small end's bushed smaller since the pin's are smaller for a clevland than a 400.I used an offset bushing so I could raise the piston firther up the cylinder for more compression.I'm at 10 to 1 now and I'm still in the hole at least .030".
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 236
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From: Southwest Montana
Badger makes a High perf flatop for the 400 that is very similar to the 1971 flatop. PN is 40010F STD thru .060 over. Cheap too
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: PacNW
The Badger pieces aren't really Hi-Po pistons. They are cast flat top and were originally developed to convert convert 400 engines to propane or CNG. Again, these are pistons which will sit an additional .010" down the bore from stock which already sit +/- .050" down the bore.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 4
From: PacNW
The pistons Tim sells are hypereutectic (high silicone aluminum) pistons which he worked with Badger to produce. I don't believe they're forged or he wouldn't be able to sell them for $195 a set. They have a higher compression height which allows them to reach "zero deck" thereby eliminating the problem with the piston being too far down in the bore. They'll work with any 400 engine & heads but they work best with closed chamber quench style heads since they allow the piston to get close enough to the head to allow for quench.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,625
Likes: 342
From: Albuquerque
My custom J.E. pistons are very similar to Meyer's design. The dish in the middle is key. I've used flat tops with lower compression that had more of a tendency to spark knock.
Hyperneutic (?)is a good material but is not forged. Again piston selection is crucial in building a 400.
Hyperneutic (?)is a good material but is not forged. Again piston selection is crucial in building a 400.
