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Re: [Healeys] Forged pistons

To: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Forged pistons
From: Bob Spidell via Healeys <healeys@autox.team.net>
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:44:56 -0700
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: healeys@autox.team.net
References: <CALPtYiOM9cmdE34WAiJGg19DFWb-EZ727zxjGQL5B=GXOxe-4g@mail.gmail.com>
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FWIW, I bought forged (metric) Omega pistons from DWM for my BJ8 a few 
years ago, and they came with the admonishment:

"To keep the compression ratio as high as possible they are machined in 
height to the uppermost limit and this means, if the engine block has 
been skimmed at any time, the piston top may have to be skimmed to suit. 
This is standard practice with all good engine builders and therefore 
should not pose any problem."

Why length 18 thou longer I don't know; maybe 'stock' pistons were 
purposely cut short to allow for manufacturing differences in the block 
or head?

Bob

On 8/19/2025 10:46 PM, Roger Grace wrote:
>
> Late model BJ8
>
> In the process of changing out the block (because of a porosity 
> coolant leak into the oil drain back).
>
> Managed to find a Wolseley 110 saloon block of similar vintage. I do 
> believe that it was original and had not been previously opened. 
> Everything seemed the same and interchangeable with my original bock. 
> Well almost ...
>
> While the engine is in bits decided to do some upgrades - pots re 
> bore, crank grind, balancing, new pistons etc. etc. Now discover that 
> the pots are about 25 thou shorter than the original. Any thought as 
> to reason ? I note that the Wolseley block had concave piston crowns. 
> Maybe to reduce compression for a saloon car and the block decked to 
> set the final compression ?
>
> To add to this problem decided to spring for a set of AH Spares forged 
> pistons. Surprise surprise the compression length is about 18 thou 
> longer than standard BJ8 pistons. These variances might seem trivial 
> but they are consequential. So now will likely have to machine the 
> forged piston crowns or as a last resort consider a block shim. All 
> rather painful !
>
> Any thoughts or ideas appreciated.
>
> rg
>
>
>
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    FWIW, I bought forged (metric) Omega pistons from DWM for my BJ8 a
    few years ago, and they came with the admonishment: <br>
    <br>
    "To keep the compression ratio as high as possible they are machined
    in height to the uppermost limit and this means, if the engine block
    has been skimmed at any time, the piston top may have to be skimmed
    to suit. This is standard practice with all good engine builders and
    therefore should not pose any problem."<br>
    <br>
    Why length 18 thou longer I don't know; maybe 'stock' pistons were
    purposely cut short to allow for manufacturing differences in the
    block or head?<br>
    <br>
    Bob<br>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 8/19/2025 10:46 PM, Roger Grace
      wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CALPtYiOM9cmdE34WAiJGg19DFWb-EZ727zxjGQL5B=GXOxe-4g@mail.gmail.com">
      <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
      <div dir="ltr">
        <div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"> <span></span>
          <p style="margin-bottom:0cm">Late model BJ8</p>
          <p style="margin-bottom:0cm">In the process of changing out
            the
            block (because of a porosity coolant leak into the oil drain
            back).</p>
          <p style="margin-bottom:0cm">Managed to find a Wolseley 110
            saloon
            block of similar vintage. I do believe that it was original
            and had not been previously opened. Everything seemed the
            same and interchangeable
            with my original bock. Well almost ...</p>
          <p style="margin-bottom:0cm">While the engine is in bits
            decided to do
            some upgrades - pots re bore, crank grind, balancing, new
            pistons
            etc. etc. Now discover that the pots are about 25 thou
            shorter than
            the original. Any thought as to reason ? I note that the
            Wolseley
            block had concave piston crowns. Maybe to reduce compression
            for a
            saloon car and the block decked to set the final compression
            ?</p>
          <p style="margin-bottom:0cm">To add to this problem decided to
            spring for a set of AH Spares forged pistons. Surprise
            surprise the
            compression length is about 18 thou longer than standard BJ8
            pistons.
            These variances might seem trivial but they are
            consequential. So
            now will likely have to machine the forged piston crowns or
            as a last
            resort consider a block shim. All rather painful !</p>
          <p style="margin-bottom:0cm">Any thoughts or ideas
            appreciated.</p>
          <p style="margin-bottom:0cm">rg</p>
          <br>
        </div>
      </div>
      <br>
    </blockquote>
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