where did my pistons come from

Corey · 12-09-1999, 05:13 PM

I just tore apart my recently bought, EA coded (1.7 liter), cased non original motor to find an unfamiliar piston. They're TRW forging put out JE according to the stamps underneith. They have a 4.060 bore. My cylinder scratches are too deep for honing so I've got a small problem. Does anyone have any idea where in the heck these pistons came from. Also, where can I get 4.060 bored cylinders if I can't find pistons. I first thought they were chevy pistons but the dimensions are all wrong for ford or chevy standards. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Germain · 12-10-1999, 03:59 AM

Pistons come from the stork. Everyone knows that.

Sorry, had to

Corey · 12-10-1999, 06:33 AM

ha ha. the stork. fair enough, it was a stupid question. Anyway, I guess what I meant to ask was: where can I get 103mm cylinders or 104mm pistons? Does Pelicanparts have them???

Alpine · 12-10-1999, 07:05 AM

I've heard stories of people putting Chevy pistons into 914 motors. Don't know of any of the specifics though.

Alpine

Tim Polzin · 12-10-1999, 08:06 AM

I've read in a couple of places where people have had less than satisfactory results from boring out the cylinders and using oversized pistons. Finding oversized pistons may also be a problem. You might be better off replacing yours with a new set of p&cs.

Corey · 12-10-1999, 08:42 AM

If I drop back down from 103mm pistons to 94mm pistons, will my heads still work. I don't know any of the dimensions for the 2.0L heads and whether or not mine have been machined. Where can I get dimensions for stock volume numbers for 2.0L heads and deck heights for 94mm pistons so I can fugure if the new compression ratio will work out ok. Any suggestions??

Tim Polzin · 12-10-1999, 08:47 AM

Since your case and heads have already been fly cut, why not just buy a set of p&cs the same size as your old ones? To go back to 94's will require a new case and heads.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

JE is, if I remember correctly, one of the race-parts manufacturers. TRW is a reputable (generally) manufacturer of "hard" engine parts.

You might be able to talk to a local race shop about the cylinders, or maybe get contact info from them.

The volume of the stock 2.0 combustion chambers is just over 60cc. Mine measured 61cc, Jim Thorusen's measured 61cc. I was unable to measure deck height accurately, but Jim measured his at 0.012".

I'm not sure of the size of the spigots in the case that are used for all of the stock cylinders. Nor am I sure of the outer diameter of the cylinder sealing surface at the head. But either or both may have been modified for your 103/104 cylinders, and if so you may not be able to go back.

You can also contact Brian, one of the Pelican sales guys. brian@pelicanparts.com -- he has been taking some of the load off of Tom with the on-line orders.

--DD

dave914 · 12-10-1999, 08:59 PM

Try Mark Stephans in South California. I recall seeing there ads for big bore type IV kits, I think 103 or 104 mm was one of them.
Hope this helps DAve

PS it is probably penny wise, pound foolish to reuse old pistons that came from a scored cylinder. If you must reuse, measure everything carefully. Note the new tolerance specifications, the wear limits, and determine how much life maybe left. Be sure you understand how and where you should take the piston and cylinder diameter measurement. It can be done inncorrectly if your not informed. A really nice reference I use on how to rebuild the engine is one of the VW official manuals, even the old 36 HP engine manuals have a good discription of how to check used parts correctly. I don't know how the official 914 manual instructs you, it is a very expensive set of books, the VW one is relitivly cheap. As I recall, many after market non-official books do not go into detail.
I don't have my book with me, and can't recall all the details right now.

Good Luck Dave

Gruppe5 · 12-11-1999, 02:55 PM

Hey Corey,
Dont know if this will help ya or not, but i have a set of 104mm P&C's and although I dont have a set of calipers, I took a steel tape to them and got 4 1/4" OD on the cyl bases and the pistons are TRW and they measure 4" OD at the top. The Cyls are HJ (?) ever heard of them?

The set was for sale but I just sold them sorry!

pc

Corey · 12-13-1999, 06:32 AM

I seems that the simplest way to handle this is to bore my cylinders to and get new 104mm pistons. I don’t know where to get 104mm pistons though. One of you (Gruppe5) said you had some 104mm pistons, did you say that had already sold the pistons, cylinders, or both? If you still have the pistons I am interested. A few of you mentioned p&c, where is that, and how can I get a hold of them. Another one of you (dave914) suggested Mark Stephens in South California, could you be a little more specific.
Thanks guys…

Gruppe5 · 12-14-1999, 04:53 AM

well im waiting for the "check in the mail" type of thing right now for the set of "jugs and plugs" If I dont hear from him in a reasonable amount of time I will get back to you. Send me a note to my email address about this, or I'll forget.
hrly_man@yahoo.com

Corey · 12-14-1999, 06:15 AM

I was able to get all of my scratches out with a hone and I'm going to knurl the pistons to fill in the gap but I still need rings and clearance numbers. Does anyone know where I can get rings for 103mm pistons. Also, I need a piston to cylinder wall clearance before the machinest can start. Does any one know that number or know where to get it. The pistons are 103mm trw (je) forged. Thanks.

neilca · 12-14-1999, 07:13 AM

Why don't you call J&E. Talk to Scott Highland (714) 898-9763. They can make anything you want. Good luck.