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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 04:48 PM
  #1  
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pistons?

Did my builder use the wrong pistons for decent compression in my build? KB150 030
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 05:26 PM
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A few questions, as there's a lot more to compression than just the pistons:

What head gaskets did he use?
What motor did he build? (360, 390, etc)
What's the combustion chamber volume?
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 06:45 PM
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Head gaskets-Part of a Fel Pro kit i think- FS3389VS??
Motor is a 390
combustion chamber-don't know- D2TE heads

Thanks
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 07:04 PM
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I had a set of D2TE-AA heads CC'd, they came out to 73, so I'll use that.

Those pistons have a 20cc dish.

The Fel-Pro head gasket is .041" thick.

Using the above, we come up with 8.69:1 compression.

Is that wrong? I dont know, depends on the rest of the motor and what you intend to use it for.

If you changed out the head gaskets to .020" Mr. Gasket steel shims, you'd have 9.13:1.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 07:21 PM
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I've got it in a 6500lb crewcab and I pull a trailer quite a bit. Cam is a crane 343901, heads are pocket ported, headers, dual 2 1/2" exhaust with flowmasters, 600cfm Vac Sec Holley on stock 4v intake. It just doesn't seem to have the snort everyone talks about on here. I used to have the Comp 268H cam which had a bit more mid to upper power but the crane has more low end I think.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 08:38 PM
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I'd suspect more of a tuning issue than a problem with the motor. Even then, in a big heavy crewcab, you cant expect a lot of acceleration.

Check your timing. Read the plugs. Make sure the secondaries are opening.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 08:58 PM
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We've rebuilt that holley 2 or 3 times now. Maybe an edelbrock is in order?
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 10:05 PM
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Well did you try different setups, like different secondary springs, power valves, jetting? How do the plugs read? How much timing are you running?
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 10:43 PM
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Like rusty stated, do the cheap things first on the tune before throwing money at it like a carb. With that low of compression and weight it wouldn't be a barn stormer. JMO.
.....=o&o>.....
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 10:57 PM
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i pulled out a low compression 390 and put in a slightly higher compression 360 and had better power in my 75 crewcab... if you can get the 390 tuned right i think you'll be okay!
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 11:00 PM
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Slightly off-topic, but I'm kind of curious. How exactly did you get higher compression in a 360?
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 11:01 PM
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This motor was brand new 2 years ago and I'm a little pi**ed if it is only 8.7:1 compression. Everything I have read on this site says you need more compression to get decent power.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2005 | 11:10 PM
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put in the .020 head gaskets.. already had a good 360 short block laying around and the 390 toasted all the rods bearings after the oil pump locked up due to valve stem seals, so the crank was thrashed.. just threw in some gaskets and swapped on another set of heads i had laying around to get the truck running again while i built another motor, now the debate is 390 or save some extra cash and go 410....
 
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Old Nov 23, 2005 | 09:22 PM
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the edelbrock is no performance piece. Your truck is heavy, I don't recall getting any rearend gear and tire combo's. I know my truck from 0-20mph at wot is a dog, and thats at 5200lbs. A 8.5cr for a heavy truck and towing is ideal, especially with a smaller camshaft.

AS for secondary springs, i happen to run a light spring even though my truck is kinda heavy. I have the 670 street avenger and it comes with a lighter spring and a stiffer one. They say the stiff one should be used with heavy vehicles and vice versa but as mentioned I like the light one.

As someone said, you should make sure your secondaries are opening all the way. Usually, if your gas pedal is high and has a lot of travel you are fine. But if you are about an inch or so off the floor, i would check that.

Heck you might want to check your timing and make sure the vaccum advance cannister is working.
 
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Old Nov 23, 2005 | 10:50 PM
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I've got 3.73 gears in it with 285/75 R16 tires. I had 4.11 gears but I the highway speed was too slow for me. My truck pulls off the line pretty good but on the highway if I don't run even a small hill I lose speed. And with a trailer its way worse.
 
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