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why can't I use flat tops in my zxt??


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I would like to know what the big deal is using stock flat tops in my zxt. I'm mounting in the intercooler, I've goten rid of stock injection and am putting on a SDS. So whats the problem?? You can use forged or hyperutechic but why not stock cast L28 pistions? I've heard remores that its the ring gap but hey when you get forged pistions you don't get to pic the ring gap and they just give you rings that are very strong so why can't I get stock crome allo rings for the non turbo pistions and run them in my zxt I know I'm not going to get as much compression as a non turbo zx but I'll have more then the stock turbo car had and I can spool and turbo even faster. So why won't this work?? :confused:

 

tbs

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You can use them but, the motor will be more prone to detionation and will limit the total amount of boost pressure that you will be able to run. If you run in the 8 to 8.5 range should be enough for good spool up and total power. A correctly sized turbo will really help in the spoolup and power areas.

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Guest JAMIE T

Are you talking about the distance between the rings(ring lands)? Or, the ends of the rings where they come together(ring gap)? If you order pistons for a turbo motor, then the manufacturer will take into consideration the ring lands. The ring gap is your call. Most folks that build purpose built engines, will "file fit" the rings, or use special gapless rings. If the gap is too tight on a turbo motor, the ring ends will jam into each other when the engine gets hot(damn fast) that will break a ring land, and pretty much trash a bunch of parts. As for just using flat top pistons? The comression will just be too high to run descent boost on. Turbo engines use lower compression to keep from detonating sooner. The Turbo builds cylinder pressure by forcing more air in the cylinder, if the cylinder pressure is already high, then something must give.

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I believe the ring lands are farther down the sidewall of the cylinder on a turbo piston, compared to the n/a piston. You can use the flat-tops, but you will be limited to how much boost you can run if your compression gets too high (atleast on pump gas)

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Also please be aware that your compression ratio doesnt have a direct effect on your spool-up the way you are thinking. The A/R of the turbo is the biggest contributing factor to spoolup. (ie in the "my turbo is at full boost at 3000rpm" way tongue.gif ) It does affect the off boost drive-ablity of the motor resulting a a fast spool time (ie its at full boost in 1.3 sec.) Lastly, speaking from experience (I had four broken ring lands when I tore my motor apart) it is way better to get turbo pistons maybe with a different head to boost the compression. The NA pistons just arent made to take the boost most people want to throw at them. Mine broke at 10 psi and one audible knock .... it was toast afterwards fmad.gif

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Guest JAMIE T

I would think that 8:1 is plenty low enough compression. As for the pistons serviving, and not breaking ring lands? Just feed it the fuel that it needs. "Just Say No To Detonation"

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