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WB 820 pistons - Printable Version

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WB 820 pistons - Art Romanelli - 02-24-2017

I was thinking about the limited 820 piston choices performance wise and I figured I would ask a question that might me be rediculous. Whats to stop someone from getting a single ring , or  even better a blank piston if possible , I dont know if US MOPO had just made one run of pistons through thier supplier. What would be hard about putting one on a lathe for  thin rings ? Besides location of the rings. I never weighed an old Wiseco as opposed to a newer style . I was just curious.


RE: WB 820 pistons - ted johnson - 02-24-2017

Louie Figone was working with Arias to make pistons with 1mm rings for West Bend engines. I don't know where things stand, but I believe there is a minimum order requirement to meet. Why don't you contact Louie and see where things stand? I was hoping for a like piston for the 610, but I imagine there are so few 610's out there as to make that one impractical. I'd be happier with a .024 ring piston for the 610. It's too sad. In the olden days, a call to Wiseco would get any ring groove or grooves you wanted. We were running single .024 rings as early as 1961. We also ran two .024 rings in a single groove. Ted


RE: WB 820 pistons - Art Romanelli - 02-24-2017

I called Wiseco for the hell of it. Theres a guy in Cali that ordered a run of 12 pistons from them. The pistons weigh 149 grams and are boost ported with single rings. I was told they are single ring design and will use a moly ring. I was told the ring is intended for nickel blocks. I asked what can be done if I wanted a run made , 12 min and around 1500 bucks.


RE: WB 820 pistons - steve welte - 02-24-2017

that's interesting. Someone needs to order more and the price will drop. Not sure what the WB piston weighs. I don't have a gram scale. Maybe a post office trip is needed.


RE: WB 820 pistons - Art Romanelli - 02-24-2017

They said it was an initial run for this guy , they intend on making more , but they said its this guys design and we would have to purchase from him. They said they made blank ones for Bonbright awhile back. I would kick in a few hundred bucks for a run , but I think I would rather try to get a thin ring design of the ole days. I dont know what the guys intentions are that made this run , but I was under the impression they will be available. Dont find the guys name familiar.

Problem I see is the moly ring , as some 820s are still chrome bore. I guess its not too important since people are usually replating thier cores anyways. Its funny the guy at Wiseco was very familiar with the 820s. They are only 45 min. from me.


RE: WB 820 pistons - steve welte - 02-24-2017

Art a moly ring is not a chrome ring.


RE: WB 820 pistons - Art Romanelli - 02-24-2017

I might have misunderstood but I think I was told they were chrome faced rings/ I might be mistaken , but my moly ring statement might have caused some confusion as I do confuse them alot, brain fart, but you are correct Steve , my mistake , but I do have moly rings in my stroker 488 olds?