Cracked JE Pistons

I pulled these out of a block today that had about 10k miles on it, thought this was an interesting problem

 

I stopped by the shop today and looked at them as well, all 4 were cracked on the thrust side of the piston. The top ringland anti det grooves were melted on two and all 4 wrist pins were blue from getting hot.

Very Strange, I cant remember who built the motor maybe the previous owner will chime in

 

How do you think that the build would have caused this piston damage? Any pics of the ring lands or wrist pins? Which JE pistons are these? I reserve the right to use my 17 other questions at a later date.

 

Andrew and David are better suited to answer that I think

 

too tight in the bore?

 

to high of an rpm?

 

This was built by Topspeed from what I was told. Not saying it was their fault...Just saying I was told they put the shortblock together.

 

These were JE Pistons made for Cobb.

 

Gary's old motor?

 

Yes it was Garys. It may just be one of those freak things

 

I'll take some pictures of the ring land and wrist pin, idk how it happend but it definatly got really hot. I'm gonna measure all the cylinders monday

 

crazy.

 

Is there anyway a 100mm piston would fit into a stock bore cylinder? Gary said the block has never been bored and these were drop in stock sized pistons. Ball says it is stamped 100mm on the piston.

 

It's amazing how all these freak accidents happen to Gary's old stuff.

 

Yeah, I think the meth had something to do with it.

 

Who cares what is stamped on the piston. What is the measurement of the block bore and the piston? Ball Engine has the tools so put them to work.

 

Ballistic08 is Ball Engine he already said he would check them. Its Sunday they dont work today

 

I'm very interested to see where this goes...

 

I knew that. I was just saying lets see what the actual measurements were.

So did Gary sell you the block saying it was stock bore? Interesting to see where this goes. I bought myself a bore gauge and a micrometer just so I can double check everything when I go to assemble the motor.

 

I don't see how meth can have anything to do with it?

 

any pictures of the bore? wondering if there was scuffing, or a failure of the oil rings. somehow that bastard got REALLY hot and caused it to crack

coolrex what bore gauge did you buy

 

I did'nt see any cracks on the ringlands when I was there, thats what you think of when you think ring problems

 

there was one piston with a stuck top ring from what looked like where the piston began to melt

 

Hmmm wonder if the meth wasn't spraying when it should. Only issue I can see being the meth. That would cause it to be severely lean and melt the pistons.

Nicad I got my tools from Snap On.

 

What's "an engine builder's" best guess as to what happened here?

 

The pistons were stock bore and so were the cylinders. The block will need to be bored and I will have to use 100mm pistons. Oh well, sh!t happens....at least the block wasn't completely trashed.

 

That is a relief. Was the cylinders scuffed up too much to use 99.75mm?

 

yes and I think he is using Mahles and as far as I know they only come in .020 over

 

You are right....Mahles only come in 2 sizes. Why I went with CP's.

 

yeah worn too much for 10

 

I went with the stock size Mahle's for my motor and so far they are great. I only get light piston slap when the motor is cold after that it sounds like a stock motor, quiet as could be.

 

Yeah, I would love to go with stock sized pistons but since they ahve to bore out the cyclinders, I will have to go with 20 over. Did you end up using the 2618 pisons?

 

I have the 4032's.

I still have the 100mm Arias but I am meeting a prospective buyer at his machine shop tomorrow so they can inspect them before the sale.

 

Has anyone figured out what caused this to happen?

 

No other than the fact that these pistons got EXTREMELY hot. I would think he probably ran out of meth a few times. Like stated previously, I blame it on the meth.