Piston Cylinder determination on a Stock US 80SC

[ARCSinAK]

Hi Gentleman-

I have my 3.0 down to the longblock, wanted help determining what P/C I have. Mahle is not written, I just see a small triangle with the number 6 inside. I only have access to the top at the moment. Sorry I will take some photos. Took her out to fix 1st gear and am cleaning and changing all of the usually oil leak suspects. Does anyone have experience cutting off SSI heater boxes? In this climate I will never need heat, want to get ride of the heat build up, I have no hoses hooked up so they just hold heat.

Regards-

Jed

[Eagledriver]

The triangle and number don't help, they are on both kinds. If you clean off a spot on the outside of the cylinder and it looks shiny/glittery like it has shiney metalic color to it, then you have Alusil. If it looks dull grey matte grey finish, then you have Nikasil. It's of course much easier to tell if you have one or the other with you to compare. If you are not rebuilding the engine then it really doesn't matter. I've used Alusil in my race motor for the last 5 years with no Ill effects. I have the motor apart right now to put higher compression pistons in and the Alusils still look great.

-Andy

[Flat6pac]

On the cylinders for SC, the alucil, KS has 10 fins and the nikisil Mahle has 11 fins.
The inside of the piston, KS has a 5 digit number starting with 95
Mahle has 2 numbers, 95, a letter and 2 numbers.
Bruce

[nick_911]

+1 on the 10 fins for alusil and 11 for mahle.
If you are not replacing pistons and decide to strip it pull the cylinders off with the pistons still in them. That will save you the whole re- ringing issue if they stay in their cylinders.
The triangle with number in it is the height group of cylinder. Just make sure they are all the same height group. (all read 6 in your case )

Have fun with the project.

Cheers
Nick