I have been building an engine for 3 years. I am still in no rush, but I think over winter I want to finish her up. The head is complete:

95 GSR Head:
Rocket M22x Camshafts
Supertech Dual ValveSprings
Supertech Flatface std size valves
Crower Chromoly Retainers
ALL valve guides replaced with OEM
New valveseals, decked, etc
It is all assembled, put it together 2 years ago now and just been sitting as a paperweight.

94 GSR Block:
Looks like it came from from Desert Storm from the outside, clean on the inside, no spun bearings/scored cyl walls etc.

I was planning on going 2.0L and forged pistons etc, but money wise, I would rather just finish this motor as a 1.8 as I will be spending approx 1500 LESS which is not what I want to spend since I already have another car I want to start building in mind.

Rods: I have not purchased yet, but I plan to get Eagle rods as they are good bang for the buck (if there are cheaper yet equal solutions to Eagle I appreciate if you shoot out any names for me to look into)

Pistons: Going to go with cast, will I need forged pistons on a 1.8L that will never see Nitrous? I don't think downgrading to cast will affect me, but, I have never ran a forged piston so there may be more benefits than what I know which are beyond me.

What is a good brand name of cast pistons? I never really see any "namebrand" makers of cast units, its usually all the forged guys who really get their name out there.

Pistons will need to be 11.5:1 C/R

81.25 in diameter


Thank you very much for any help regarding this question, I think it is possibly time for ol' dusty to go in a car.

 

OEM P30 pistons. You can get tham in 81.25.

I would use OEM GSR or ITR rods with ARP bolts.

 

For the price of OEM P30's, I could buy Forged Supertech Pistons (which was going to be the brand I would go with because of their design/pricepoint)...Honda pistons are expensive, and I had looked into those a long time ago, but I think the C/R it would yield was too high for my likings.

GSR head/P30 pistons = ~12.5:1 c/r doesn't it? I can't remember

 

No, you are thinking of PCT (CTR pistons).

P30's on a GSR head is around 11.7:1

RS makes PR3 81.25's at less than $200 for the set. C/R would be ~11.6:1

 

You are 100% right, I looked into it and saw some charts and said to myself I must have been thinking of the CTR's. I am considering the RS Machine PR3's, I have my stock set of GSR rods but would end up getting them shotpeened if still utilizing them. AFAIK no aftermarket rods will fit on those style pistons without modification (I know someone who went through the process and the machine shop sure charged him for the work involved so he told me)

 

The stock rods are fine. If you want to be safe, use ARP rod bolts.

Best of luck with your project.

 

Thank you


So the stock GSR rods can withstand ~10k of abuse?

 

It will probably withstand 9K rpm of abuse, which is right around where your motor will stop making power. Have fun.

 

The few times I've seen rods destroyed, it was due to the rod bolts stretching and/or oil insufficiency.

Get ARP rod bolts and make sure you have proper clearances as well as oil pressure/volume and you'll be good.

 

I hear ya, I know to get the rods bored round again as the ARP's will generally oval them a bit because of the added strength they are capable of producing compared to the oem units, however something with my "better safe then sorry" mentality still tells me I should change them out (I have no history/mileage known of the block which I had purchased a few years ago).

Are there any cast pistons which match up to aftermarket rods for the B18c, or is forged the only route in that case?

 

Did some research and it is going to be senseless to keep the stock GSR rods. After having to buy ARP bolts, have them resized by machineshop, I am already looking at a set of eagles.

Going with Eagle Rods + Supertech Pistons

Eagle P/N: CRS5430A3D (stock GSR replacement)

Supertech P/N: P4-H815-P6 (11.6:1 c/r for B18C5, but shouldn't have an issue on B18C1, c/r rating will be slightly different on GSR head, possibly a bit higher)


Now to search where the cheapest to buy is. (any suggestions are appreciated as to who has them for the cheapest)

I need more sponsorships lol

 

Oem pistons ftw. I ran supertechs in a b20 and they were great, but LOUD at the recommended ptw clearance of .0038. If you insist on using them I would tighten the clearance up to .0025-.003.

 

look for nippon jdm p30 pistons... i have used those ALOT on budget builds, they work great and with a good combo of parts you can make 200hp with em.

I think the last set i bought was around 200bux with rings, etc

 

Thank you again for the suggestions On the hunt for a deal for the rod/piston combo. I will consider CP for pistons as well, but they tend to be a tad more expensive.

 

if you are staying stock bore just get oem pistons. they will last long and make just as much power

 

Well if you still want to stay stock bore and want a 11.1 to11.5 compression then I have something you might be interested in. I have some nippon 81mm pr3 pistons with rings. I heard mixed feelings about nippon but people who actually uses them back these up 100%. I have them too in my gsr block. Just thought you might be interested. Btw these are coated like the rs machine pistons, which I think is probably the same pistons. Was told These were made for a company but he didn't say whom. Pm me if you are interested. Here's a picture of them, brand new in box with eings. $150 shipped

 

those pistons look like spark racing a little..

 

Thanks for the suggestions, and yes, those look identicle to the "RS Machine/Raceaxis/whatever they are going by nowadays" brand lol

I am going to stick with the aftermarket rods+pistons and will be going with 81.50mm

Still looking for a deal, I remember when I originally looked eagle rods were around $250, and Supertech pistons were around $350, if I can spend $600 or less on the two I will be happy.

 

ebay sometimes has sellers selling combo packs for good deals. also, just search the market place here to see what sellers are selling what

 

Will check ebay, and as far as pming, already making a list for all the dealers. Whoever is cheaper, and of course cheaper than ebay, will get my money

 

hit up greg at go-autoworks as well. hes a sponsor over on d-series and he has packages as well

 

Thanks^ Will try to email them for a quote :0)

 

id just run stock itr pistons