RC000E

I fell into a deal on them for CHEAP. Having read mixed reviews on them, I figure I'll try them out to get my own take from a personal perspective. I've done some searching, but I'd like to know who's made the most with these.

Post your numbers if you don't mind.

Minor Threat

They're big in the domestic world.

You figure the D-series guys are cranking out big horsepower on ching chong pistons, a real forged job should be able to match it.

It's all about building your engine with the right clearances for the job at hand. Watch your piston to wall clearance and your ring gaps and you should be fine.

tokesGTR

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Minor Threat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

It's all about building your engine with the right clearances for the job at hand. Watch your piston to wall clearance and your ring gaps and you should be fine.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Amen! I've seen some probe pistons that were good, and I've seen some probe pistons that were way out of tolerance. Get the pistons before you bore the block, and have the machine shop set it all up correctly and I think you would be fine.

RC000E

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Minor Threat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They're big in the domestic world.

You figure the D-series guys are cranking out big horsepower on ching chong pistons, a real forged job should be able to match it.

It's all about building your engine with the right clearances for the job at hand. Watch your piston to wall clearance and your ring gaps and you should be fine.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bro...I've been building Honda engines since the late 90's. My build practices aren't an issue. I don't skip on chamber prep, top or bottom. I'm not a plastigague builder either...I build with all vernier scale mics and bore gages. I fully blueprint every build I do so clearances are never in question, then do the double check with plastigauge...it's a practice I've adopted from Larry Windmer and have always done it that way. I'll extract from them what they are capable of.

My question is what it is....who'd made the most so far. What do we "know" they are capable of to date.

I've seen a few builds in the high 300's, but none beyond that. I know a Probe rep turned away a 700whp build, stating their pistons weren't capable. I'm wondering if anyone has established where the line lies.

T4eg

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RC000E &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I know a Probe rep turned away a 700whp build, stating their pistons weren't capable. </TD></TR></TABLE>

If the factory rep said that about HIS OWN piston, i think that should answer the question for you.

RC000E

That's a bit ridiculous....Eagle would turn away the same build because their rods aren't recommended for those power levels either, but thousands and thousands of Eagle rods are used reliably. Everything has a design limitation versus cost.

Just because something isn't reliable at 700whp, doesn't mean it can't be a great choice for 450whp builds.

T4eg

you seem pretty set on on using them.. cuz ur "cheap" deal.. so since they are so cheap use them and let everyone know how they worked

Joseph Davis

I've only touched two cars with Probes, both street tunes with small turbos. I do know a couple years back they had an issue with their lightweight wristpins being extra crackalicious.

Sorry, I know that's not the response you're looking for, but I'm curious if they ever remedied the crap lightweight wristpin design, or alternately if the pin caused *what appeared* to be a problem with a piston that wasn't a problem. Some factoids to take into account.

ckiel24

Has any one on here actually tried these pistons yet?

DLB1994

i have used them in a few 400whp stock sleeve bulids

RC000E

Well, I've got these pistons and a block, and now I have a second block with CP's. So I figure, I'm gonna give these pistons a go, along with Probe rods and just basically see what these things are gonna hold. Worst case if it goes, hopefully it doesn't go bad enough to take my head with it. Why not....

DaveF

are you going to do this on pump gas or racegas ? personally i dont see any reason not to take this thing up to wherever it blows... afterall, you want to find a limit right ? who knows, it may actually live at super hp levels for a while before it breaks.

pingaturbo

This is what happended to my probe piston

pingaturbo

this happened at 130mph racing an M3

blinx9900

probe pistons here, multiple builds from 450-750whp hondas and evo's. no problems ever. all drag cars that are heavily abused.

RC000E

Well, let me clarify further. I won't push it to the point that it goes, that's not my intention. My goal is 520whp this year on E85, so if it gets there, then that's where I'm staying.

Pingaturbo...that's a good lookin pic. Doesn't look like a piston problem though...that thing is a globule....lol.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by blinx9900 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">probe pistons here, multiple builds from 450-750whp hondas and evo's. no problems ever. all drag cars that are heavily abused.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nice to know man. I'm really questioning alot of these rods. Eagle, SCAT, Probe, TT, and more. First SCAT's were junk..now they're accepted, then TT showed up, but defended they weren't the same because of machining practices. I'm really starting to question if these aren't all on the same playing field here.

When SCAT first came into the import scene I had a buy acct with one of SCAT's main dealers. I used quite a few sets and never had an issue, but got criticized quite a bit then. Versus Eagles though, I could never determine a discernible difference.

Has anyone really compared these Probe Hbeams side by side with eagles or scats? Are there any quality control issues or anything that can be determined to be an issue? I understand maybe the pistons have questions, but the rods?

I'll run it....see what happens. I remember 2001 when everyone said putting an H22 in my hatch would not allow it to turn, or even before that when they said Dseries motors couldn't take any injection of nitrous and I ran a 100shot for over a year. Sometimes I like to do things just to see for myself and make my own conclusions. Why not right?

DaveF

get on with the show !


what turbo is going on it ?

RC000E

My GT30R will go on it. I've got three builds ahead of my car, so the show ain't happenin that soon...lol. I'll just finish up the block and when everything is clear I'll throw it in. Right now I'm on E85 with an lsvtec (arp rod bolts/head studs/acls/cometic). It's runnin fine on 10psi right now and I really don't drive it at all with it being cold.

I'll likely just roll to carlisle on that setup, and just focus on getting these other guys cars done. I'm maintaining my manifold production times, so I'm just gonna squeeze myself in next month and make another mani for a bigger, more prioritized gate location. I'll get it in there.

DaveF

RC000E

Lots of nice parts for sale you have there. You headin out to carlisle this year?

DaveF

na, i havent been to carlise since 99, when i had a lowrider truck
i go to the races (nhra, ndra etc etc)

RC000E

Yeah, I went five years ago, then again when it was as penn state. It has it's select bits here and there. I have a pretty big crew going this year, so looks like I'm in. Try and grab some business...know what I'm sayin.

DaveF

i hear ya. more business is always a good thing. im sure you wont have a problem attracting new customers, your work speaks for itself

RC000E

Converting stray ricers one at a time man....lol.

berb_15

I got probe pistons and rods for my setup, I've only put about 1500 on the motor so far and haven,t put he turbo kit on yet so I can't give numbers but I can say the machine shop I got them from/built my block has a very good reputation and probe pistons are mainly what they deal with. I'd assume if they were no good the shop would have gone with something different a long time ago