matching pistons to Cylinders for 87 911

[haydons944T]

I have a engine out of a 87 911 that im rebuilding. car sat for a while and had water in the cylinders damaging the pistons. the cylinders are MAHLE nikasil cylinders. I have a good set of SK pistons from a set of alusil cylinders that measure out perfect. Will these pistons work with the nikasil cylinders? thanks in advance!

[Flat6pac]

There should be complete sets of matching pistons, cheap, because people open the cylinders and pistons are left over.
Be sure you match sizes
Bruce

[tom1394racing]

I have a nice set of Mahle 3.2 Euro pistons that would work for you. PM me if you are interested.

[Trakrat]

Originally Posted by haydons944T

. the cylinders are MAHLE nikasil cylinders. I have a good set of SK pistons from a set of alusil cylinders

Nikasil and Alusil can't be interchanged. Meaning, you can't put alusil pistons in Nikasil cylinders.

[al lkosmal]

Alusil pistons will not work with Nikasil cylinders.........
however, I have a nice set of 3.2 Nikasil pistons, just removed from a very nice running, backdate project.....

$150 + shipping for the set.





regrds,
al

[Eagledriver]

I wouldn’t be willing to do the experiment, however, I don’t see why Alusil pistons wouldn’t work. They have a ferrous coating, but that is softer than the Nicasil coating on the cylinders. The reverse is true though. Nicasil pistons cannot be used with Alusil cylinders.

-Andy

[tom1394racing]

I believe it is possible to used the Alusil pistons in Nikasil cylinders as long as the Nikasil rings are used rather than the Alusil rings.

[mepstein]

For $150, Al's pistons are the way to go. That price is a gift.

[tom1394racing]

I have this set of 3.2 Euro pistons. I will PM you the details.

[SCadaddle]

Originally Posted by tom1394racing

I believe it is possible to used the Alusil pistons in Nikasil cylinders as long as the Nikasil rings are used rather than the Alusil rings.

My 3.0 SC engine has been doing just that for the last 5 or so years.

[al lkosmal]

Originally Posted by tom1394racing

I believe it is possible to used the Alusil pistons in Nikasil cylinders as long as the Nikasil rings are used rather than the Alusil rings.

I did not know that, but it makes sense. Thanks for the info.

regards,
al

[SCadaddle]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

My 3.0 SC engine has been doing just that for the last 5 or so years.

I should note that I'm not using KS Alusil pistons in Mahle Nikasil cylinders, but rather sent my KS Alusil pistons AND cylinders to EBS Racing in Reno NV, where they had the KS cylinders Nikasil plated and honed to fit my KS pistons, and EBS supplied the rings.

[al lkosmal]

Originally Posted by al lkosmal

Alusil pistons will not work with Nikasil cylinders.........
however, I have a nice set of 3.2 Nikasil pistons, just removed from a very nice running, backdate project.....

$150 + shipping for the set.





regrds,
al

Added a pic of the piston casting number.......Based on the measurement system referenced in tom's link, these are U.S.A. versions.

[Flat6pac]

All 3.2, weather 9.5 or 10.3 have the same casting numbers
The height of the high side is the difference by several mm.
Bruce

[tom1394racing]

Here is how to tell the difference between them.

Help - Identifying 3.2 Carrera Pistons