Hi all...
I need a piston&rings change and I thought about swapping my 99' Si stock pistons for those of a CTR.
I have been searching on this forums without success some guidelines, or experiences about this. (I am planning on doing the upgrade myself)

If i only change the pistons, do I need to make any change to my valve train? probably changing springs?
is it worth to also change for ctr cams? (If I am not going to change the ECU I don't think there is going to be much HP gains)....

Any pointers to information are appreciated... I will keep searching in the meantime..

thanks!

 

I've read a lot an I am getting more and more confused.

I thought swapping a b16a pistons for b16b (ctr) pistons was a "bolt on" upgrade...

but I am reading that the piston will pop out of the block and that I will need a thicker head gasket? is that allright?

I am also thinking to stick with the stock cams for now, but I am wondering if I should upgrade my springs just in case...
how about puting my exhaust springs on the intake side and getting ITR spring for the exhaust?

 

im pretty sure ull be fine with those pistons and clearance issues... but u will need a tune.. and the cams in there will make a nce difference!

 

What are your current mods? I have a feeling that piston replacement isn't going to be your "next step" for modifications.

 

not much really...

CAI (using a short-ram during the rain season), DC sports 4-1, aem tru-power pulley kit, act pro-lite flywheel, ground-controls+eibach+energy kit...

as for the engine... it's pretty much stock.
I've never opened it and since I am burning oil (checked compresion and is around 180 for all pistons.... it has to be the piston rings) I thought to change for a CTR set of pistons...

but the more I read the more doubts I have, and I do not seem to find some "howto" guide to up from stock to ctr pistons.

The most I may do is install camshafts... but I'm more into reliability than raw power....

 

What about buying a gsr or LS block?

 

not an option really...
I own the only 1999 si in Argentina and getting stuff like CTR pistons is already difficult...

Getting a block is nearly impossible....

that's why my range of options is quite limited...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by srlucas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">not much really...

CAI (using a short-ram during the rain season), DC sports 4-1, aem tru-power pulley kit, act pro-lite flywheel, ground-controls+eibach+energy kit...

as for the engine... it's pretty much stock.
I've never opened it and since I am burning oil (checked compresion and is around 180 for all pistons.... it has to be the piston rings) I thought to change for a CTR set of pistons...

but the more I read the more doubts I have, and I do not seem to find some "howto" guide to up from stock to ctr pistons.

The most I may do is install camshafts... but I'm more into reliability than raw power.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

CTR pistons WILL come out of the hole since the compression height is different then that of the B16 pistons. Keep in mind the B16B block is not the same as the B16B block. The 16B uses a taller deck height... just like the ITR/B18C1/etc. Unless you have good mechanical experience and GOOD quality gas, I wouldn't reccomend installing CTR pistons in your engine. You can make good power without them and there are several things about the pistons that make them less then desirable in my opinion (and others as well). Perhaps you should do the cams and valvetrain and see where you are at after that. I think its going to be more along the lines of what you are looking for.

 

I know CTR pistons are heavier... but I would like to increase compression a little... are there any other options?
I still need to change my pistons (or rings at least)...

super gas here is 95octanes, premium 97octanes, and 'podium' 100octanes...
so higher compression ratios should not be a problem here...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by srlucas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know CTR pistons are heavier... but I would like to increase compression a little... are there any other options?
I still need to change my pistons (or rings at least)...

super gas here is 95octanes, premium 97octanes, and 'podium' 100octanes...
so higher compression ratios should not be a problem here...</TD></TR></TABLE>

JDM B16 pistons if you want to stick to OEM options. Honestly, you don't need insanely high compression to make power. With the large increase of compression you will also need some way of tuning the setup for optimal gains.

 

arent b16jdm pistons the pct (ctr's) pistons?

where can i get those?

 

sorry.. replied to myself...

http://www.ff-squad.com/tech/temp/pistons.htm

what would be the gain in using P30 pistons?...

from what I see.. .it is a lot better to keep the stock pistons, buy new rings (maybe oversized), and then get ctr cams, or maybe skunk stage 2cams...

what are your thoughts on this?


Modified by srlucas at 3:23 PM 8/21/2007

 

the jdm b16 pistons are p30's usdm is pr3.. . you could go with the itr pistons if you want, there a lil higher than the b16 and less than the ctr's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by h0ndap0w3r &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the jdm b16 pistons are p30's usdm is pr3.. . you could go with the itr pistons if you want, there a lil higher than the b16 and less than the ctr's</TD></TR></TABLE>

So long as you use the JDM ITR's, yes. The USDM ITR's will LOWER compression slightly. The benefits of the JDM B16 pistons are a slight increase in compression while still maintaining a smaller dome. You don't need astronomically high compression to make power.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hybrid96EK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So long as you use the JDM ITR's, yes. The USDM ITR's will LOWER compression slightly. The benefits of the JDM B16 pistons are a slight increase in compression while still maintaining a smaller dome. You don't need astronomically high compression to make power.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i second that one. . . mid 11's is enough to hit 200 in a 2.0L. . . 180whp ish on a 1.8

 

im pretty much doing wats hes doing.. iu got a 00 si but im doing up the whole kit changing out all gaskets bearings rings the works my head is pretty much done it's all skunk2 pro series from valve springs retainers stage 3 cams cam gears manifold TB