Piston usage

[stevefel]

Can you use a 18* sbc piston with a sbc 23* cyl. head? I know the comp. ratio will change due to the valve angle but that is all I know. Please do not hate on me. I do not know anything about the 18* stuff. Thanks for your help in advance. :lol:

[curtisreed]

You could run into piston to valve clearance issues. This would have to be checked.

Curtis

[stevefel]

Yes, I did think of that. I would check this first, I can get a great deal on the 18* pistons, but again I do not know enough about them to try it. Thaks for the reply.

[curtisreed]

Would it save you enough if you had to go in and have someone cut the valve pockets to clear though. That's if you have enough material in the piston tops to cut.

[stevefel]

So that would help me understand the 18* thing, so the valve is at 18* and the 23* valve is more straight up and down? If the was the case, wouldn't the 23* valve travel less deeper in the piston? Thanks again for your input.

[Tod74]

So that would help me understand the 18* thing, so the valve is at 18* and the 23* valve is more straight up and down? .


I believe you got that backwards.

[curtisreed]

You do have it backwards. The 23° valves will go deeper into the piston.

[oldandtired]

You do have it backwards. The 23° valves will go deeper into the piston.
x2. To say it another way, it's safer to use 18* heads on a 23* piston.
Dave

[stevefel]

Ok, thank all of yall for your knowledge. Now just gota talk the wife into spending the money and buying the correct piston. Thanks again to everybody.

[curtisreed]

OR, you could talk her into buying the 18° heads. Tell her about all the money you will save on those pistons. LOL

Curtis

P.S. It may be possible that those pistons would work depending on your cam lift, piston to deck dim., etc. Just don't know for sure.

[stevefel]

Well, I have my Hot Rod money, and right now it is a little on the low side. She does not care what I spend that money on but when it gets into "our money" that is when it throws up a red flag. Also, I have already bought all of the stuff to build the motor and now I just changed it to go to a 6" rod, which made me buy a different set of pistons. So, as you can imagine that is not flying over to well. :D

[curtisreed]

My hotrod money is always on the low side. LOL

Curtis