piston pin question

[iTurbo]

I have a set of factory LW rods with aftermarket cast pistons I'd like to use. They are assembled with pressed pins. I wanted to upgrade the rods to factory HD rods that I have, so I brought them to the machine shop yesterday. The machinist says it can't be done because the HD rods I have are bushed for a floating pin.

The machinist says the aftermarket pistons I have aren't made for floating pins (lack of circlip groove), and that he can't press the brass pin bushing out and use the press pins either. Is this true and what needs to be done to use these HD rods with press pins/pistons?

[GLHS60]

Have you considered using 1985 and earlier H.D. rods??


Thanks
Randy

[ajakeski]

You either need the 1985 rods like Randy suggested, or a set of pistons with floating wrist pins.
The Sealed Power 533p pistons were made with a groove for a pin retainer clip, but I remember reading that the newer pistons did not have the groove.
Summit sells these pistons for about $90 for a set of four, if they're wrong, you can always send them back.
your other choice is to buy forged pistons from FWD or Turbos Unleashed.

[iTurbo]

Thanks for the info. The early HD rods would be ideal, but I don't have a set of those lying around. I guess I assumed it would just be a matter of pressing the pin bushing out and using the press fit pins, but I was wrong. I'll probably just use the LW rods at this point and use the later HD rods on something else.

[Dr. Johny Dodge]

wacha buildin ?

'cause anything under 225 hp the lw rods are just fine - in fact they're an improvement over the clunky heavy early stuff

oh yes I did say that lol

[iTurbo]

The engine is an '88 2.2L TI; bored .030" over with some Sealed Power pistons. I'm just building it for a spare/backup and would be fine with reliable 200 WHP.