Custom Mahle Pistons

[DonE]

It seems Mahle is bending their business model a little closer to custom order rather than "fit into our model and make it work". Through Performance Developments, you can order any spec piston and they'll make it for you, using their manufacturing techniques. Hmmmm...... Tempting.

On top of that, the price is actually competitive and lead times are less than a month (don't ask how I know all this ). Someone needs to check the temperature in hell, 'cause I think its frozen.

[A930Rocket]

With others out there offering alternatives and cheaper at that, they need to change to survive in this economy.

[930gt-40r]

Thats a real prospect, considering the fact that Mahle has more experience than anyone else in making pistons for air cooled cars.
Why are you inquiring about them may I dare ask? And what is the price comparison to JE's custom price (pair of six being around 1,100 last I checked)?

[JFairman]

That is interesting news and no doubt everyone would like to hear more

I'd say Mahle makes the best engineered, best fitting, and definately the longest lasting pistons for Porsche or any other German car.

[964 T #304]

J&E, Aries, and Weisco have all been building pistons to a customers specs for a number of years,if you order a certain amount. Wiesco now ownes all of the above co. Wiesco has made 3.625 pistons for racing 2.5 Mecury outboards for us to make them a 2.7 liter engine, but we had to buy 25 at a time in order for them to do it. The price was about $160.00 each.

[911st]

Great news. Could mean 8/1 CR 3.4 or 3.3 C2 Turbo style P&C's.

One of the issues 911 motors for a long time is the differental expantion rates between the cylinders and the head studs that wants to pull the studs out of the case. On top of that it is difficult keeping the heads on the cylinders with the amount of pressure that can come with a turbo.

That has me wondering dose the JB Racing Cylinders with steel liners alow for higher head stud torque values? My thinking is steel cylinders might expand less than aloy cylinder and might be less likly to pull the studs out of the case? On the other hand aloy cylinders may transfer heat faster.

So what is the best practices set up I wonder.

[Craig 930 RS]

Mahle all the way. Too many issues with J&E -

[DonE]

Originally Posted by Craig 930 RS

Mahle all the way. Too many issues with J&E -

I don't know about that - there are plenty of successful Porsche race teams that might dispute that claim.

[DonE]

Originally Posted by 930gt-40r

Thats a real prospect, considering the fact that Mahle has more experience than anyone else in making pistons for air cooled cars.
Why are you inquiring about them may I dare ask? And what is the price comparison to JE's custom price (pair of six being around 1,100 last I checked)?

I was told this during the course of conversation. I was also asked if I was interested in trying something different - details to follow. The cost of JE's are between $1200 and $1600 depending on where you get them. The Mahle's will be north of $2000 (again, that's custom Mahles).

[Craig 930 RS]

Many more that use Mahles, however.

[K24madness]

Can you order pistons only or is it still p+c's as a set?

[kenikh]

Seems to me that the other players are really stepping up their game (OK, JE is the only one), perhaps putting pressure on Mahle. I have wondered for a while why there are no "modern design" pistons for Porsche 911 applications, meaning skirtless, X-member, short pinned pistons.

These designs are the standard in today's newer turbo cars, like the WRX STi and Evo X, to name a few. JE just announced the availability of this kind of pistons for 911 applications, although only for 95mm diameters and up. I am still hoping they bite the bullet and run the gamut, as the HSR guys would love to have these lighter, lower friction pistons in 81mm fitments. These pistons are 40 grams lighter than the standard full skirt pistons, not to mention the pins are shorter and lighter, as well. Add titanium pins and you could end up with a piston/pin combo that produces less frictional loss and heat and is 100g lighter than a comparable Mahle. Add a set of Nickies cylinders and you have a real winner.
Check it out:

Lightweight "FSR" Pistons for Porsche engines
JE Pistons has just released new lightweight "FSR" pistons for Porsche 911 engines. After a year of development and on-track testing, the new Porsche pistons have proven to be extremely durable and up to 30 grams lighter than previous designs. The all-new forging design features narrow skirts for reduced friction, external bracing for improved strength and a 2.250" wrist pin length to reduce overall weight. The pistons are currently available by custom order in bore sizes from 95.00 - 100.50mm and a variety of compression ratios.

Gives me a chubby just looking at them!

[DonE]

Originally Posted by K24madness

Can you order pistons only or is it still p+c's as a set?

Sorry, I didn't ask. If I try these, the cylinders will be provided.