And you know how things in forums seem to move around kinda slowly.....  I figured I could get final numbers by the time we had enough people agreeing on what to get.  I just keep pushing the subject to keep interest up...  I was actually kinda hoping that someone else would take over this topic when I started it... but i'll drag my lazy behind up and figure this thing out, might just take me a bit..  so where is everyone else at now as far as size and compression?  And i'm not sure yet what has to be done to the piston to get our desired compression, just the bore increase and moving the rings up would get a some more compression, i don't know how much.. probably still have to go a little taller and if the deck is 4mm and the valves open just .03 into the cylinder less than that, we'd need the valve pockets. maybe it is time for another call to ross...  I think It would come to 152.50 each for up to 20 pistons 137.50 each over 20.. these are just estimates without final figures, could be more, could be less, these are supposed to be high estimates, but you never know.  I'll keep lookin' for numbers, if anyone else finds any lemme know!

Ok, most folks seem happier with 96mm 9.5:1.  I'd actually like to keep 3mm liner thickness so 96 is fine by me.  I'll give up a half point on compression, I'm still going to have to run an oil cooler if i do the nitrous, but 9.5 keeps me in a safer range with the pressure i'll be adding...  There were definately at least 4 sold with these specs, so i'll call ross again, see if what kind of numbers they already have for our bike, if any.  Thinking now..  If they do have the necessary info would everyone like me to place the order?  I'll wait a couple of days on responses before i call, but i don't know if ross will have the info.  I still need to see if they will let us all send in payment seperately and then ship to us each seperately.. If they will not do this, is there maybe a trusted board god here that would be willing to make the transaction?  Collect the funds and then seperate the order for everyone, maybe for a small fee?  I'm new here, so I don't expect to be trusted with anyone's money or piston, and frankly I avoid responsibilty whenever possible anyway.  I don't really think this will be necessary, ross will probably charge us extra to ship individually, but i don't see why they wouldn't do it.  I'm just trying to line these ducks up, so hard to get neat rows...

LANCER wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:



I can't speak for the guy who started this piston discussion, or anyone else, but I'm okay with that arrangement. It seems that several people have been concerned about compatibility with your camshaft kit anyways. As a future possibility, myself included, in the prospect of a mild low-mid torque cam grind.

I've been wondering if you would kick in here, as I see the opportunity for you to eventually offer stepped kits: Stage #1; Stage #2; Stage #3 ... With increasing degree of performance/cost. It's a common marketing strategy benificial too both seller and buyers, as it assures compatibility, and allows buyers to decide what level of performance/durability they are comfortable with.

But there is a point were this sort of thing gets a bit sticky, and I know this from ordering other custom parts with another group (In the other case it was music instrument speakers)...

Once someone has associated themselves with a design from a company, sometimes the company will refuse to allow anyone else, other than the person who made the original order, to order that design in the future.

IOW, that person has exclusive rights to that design from that manufacturer. I'd hope this wouldn't be the case here. Though unlikely, someone else might want to order the minimum four pistons in the future, and it would be nice if the company didn't turn them away because "that design belongs to ______!"

Barring that one fluke, I'd think your offer would be a service to the group as a whole, and probably the most economical way too, IF they will allow you a wholesale discount. Of course, once this whole thing is a proven scheme, I'm sure there will be more folk want in on it in the future, and the ground work will already be laid.

Of course, you could always offer the people from this group some discount on future purchase, as I've seen you do in the past.    (To clarify: Discount as compared to what you might sell for $$$ on eBay or elsewhere.)

I am ok with Lancer handling the purchase I am also ok with 9.5:1 and 96mm. I am really ok with saving 10-30%.
I am leaving this evening for Oil City PA and will not be back until Sunday, if we start purchasing before I get back count me in, I will send payment when I get back.

I really want in on this, but simply cant scrape up the $$ till the 3rd O May. I like the idea of not going whole hog in either direction, bore or compression.

Lancer, will this be a good thing along with the cam I am getting thru you? I expect I know the answer, but I would rather ask a silly question than risk a nasty surprise. Will the added duration on the cam create a clearance issue? Even as the cam becomes more retarded dut to chain wear?

I was able to talk with the folks at Ross Pistons today.
It may be possible to work out a dealer thing with them.
The price on the pistons is still mostly determined by the number of pistons/order.

Minimum order is 4 (as mentioned before), and priced at about $100 per piston for a domed HD type, or $94 for a flattop Suzuki type.

If the order goes up to 20+ then the prices are $85 & $80 ea for HD & Suzuki.
For an order of 40+ it will be in the $65 & $60 range per piston.
These prices are for piston only, no pin or rings, they are extra.  Sorry, did not get those prices.

***Each order of 20 or more can be split up into 2 groups of the same compression ratio but with different bore sizes...like 10 of 96mm and 10 of 97 mm, with all 20 being of the same comp. ratio of 9.5.  The bore sizes need to be next to each other.   We cannot do a stock 94mm and then 97mm for example.

If we can get enough of us together for at least an order of 20 then we can get them for about $80 each.

So, what do you all think at this point?
Should we go to the next step of getting the EXACT NUMBERS that they will need to in order to do something?

You can count me in for one.  I am based in the UK but I will cover the cost of postage/shipping as long as someone can send it to me.  I can pay up front when the time comes.

While I think your idea of a seprate thread for commitment is the way to go, folk need to know exactly what they are commiting to; including the total cost of a useable kit (rings, pin, and all...)

Also, since this thing has been kind of a "design by committee" thing (often not a good idea) I think I'd throw my vote in for a flat top piston over a dome. While the dome 'might' have better performance, the flat top would be more predictable and the safer bet I think. That is, unless someone has some evidense that a dome top is an obviously better choice for the Hemi chamber (and it may well be). I'd also have a tendancy to follow the manufacturer's fecommendation on such matters, as they might just know what they are talkin' about.