bspaulding

We am rebuilding a 371 for the THIRD time in 1850 miles. The first failure after 1800 miles was for lifters/cam failure probably because of soft lifters. The second failure after less than 50 miles because of two blown head gaskets. In tearing down the engine both times we found broken ring lands on the pistons. As far as we can tell, both piston sets are "foreign" made.

Both rebuilds were by well known builders.

Does anybody have a set of NOS '57 371 pistons---40 over? Or suggestions? The photo shows how we sleeved the lifter bores to accept Chevie rollers and the broken piston.

Thanks, Bill

47 Convertible

For good US company that specializes in pistons for vintage engines: https://egge.com/
They've been around forever and if they don't have what you want in stock they can make them.
Jerry
ps. No pics came through when your thread came up. Maybe me?

1970-W30

No picture for me either......

Tedd Thompson

Try Tony at Ross Racing they make speed equipment for first generation Oldsmobile's....Tedd...https://rossracingengines.oursafeserver.com/

59-59-59

X2 on Egge. What brand piston cracked on you? Where did you purchase it from? Still waiting in a pic....

redoldsman

Tony and Ross Racing have been around for a long time but I would not be surprised if he doesn't get his pistons from Egge. I doubt he is set up to manufacture pistons. I would go with Egge. As mentioned, they have been around forever.

bspaulding

Thanks guys----both sets of pistons came from Egge, and the latest info is they are made in Tiawan. Both sets were cast.

The Egge head gaskets also failed on a freshly decked block and heads.

I called KANTOR and their pistons are made "overseas".

The good news is Mondello has forged US made pistons and we are getting a set from there. Arias also can make them but they have a 4-6 week wait.

The first failure in 1800 miles was because of failed (soft) lifters of unkown origin. The second failure in 30 miles was both headgaskets. In both cases one broken piston was found on teardown.

I have no idea why the photos are not visable. They seem to load ok and I get no "file too large message"

Try these links:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...811_144013.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...120244_001.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...%20%281%29.jpg

Again thnks for the input. If these links work, I'll send some photos for the Crown Vic front end in my 50 olds giving me rack and pinon PS and disk brakes.
Bill---

47 Convertible

That's very surprising. What does Egge say about their piston failure? I'm wondering if they have a price line and a quality line in their pistons with the price line made overseas? My knowledge about Egge is from long ago. They did make their own back then.Something is very different/wrong from what it used to be.
A search of the Internet turns up this link with pros and cons: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/97963-a...tons-any-good/

Apparently there are other U.S. made pistons available as suggested in the material in that thread at $100 and more per piston. I don't know if they make pistons for your 371.

I just hate reading that one more company succumbed to the lure of offshore manufacturing and lower cost/quality. I remember when Craftsman was good and not crap and they stood behind every tool made. Black and Decker used to be quality stuff as did many US Brands.
Jerry

redoldsman

I have never used Egge pistons but always thought they were like the gold standard of pistons and thought they made all their own stuff. I googled Jahns pistons which have been around forever. Here is the link I got.
http://www.jepistons.com/AboutUs.aspx

It looks like it would be worth a phone call. Good luck.

Doing a little edit of this post. My apologies to Tedd. It looks like Ross is big into pistons. Here is a link to their website.

http://www.rosspistons.com/

59-59-59

Get on EBay NOW- NOS Jahns 371 pistons -60 over.

Tedd Thompson

Not a problem, learning something myself.... Tedd

Rockabilly Hooligan

Hi Bill, I am in same situation. Looking for affordable quality USA made pistons for my 1958 371 engine. How are those Mondello pistons working for you?

Regards,

EB

bspaulding

I am having issues navigating this site---this msg is in reply to Rockabilly Hooligan to supplement an earlier message to him. I think I figured out the procedure for photos. the forged Mondello pistons vs cast---nice finish and lighter too!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...916_113005.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...916_113017.jpg

The head gaskets. Both failed causing water to go away, causing overheating. Any ideas as to why? Egge gaskets.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...916_113548.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...916_113555.jpg

the three ply metal gaskets from Cometic (MLS)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...6/IMG_3758.jpg

Rockabilly Hooligan

Thanks for the pictures. I bought a set of Mondello (Autotec) pistons but have not had them installed. The sales guy at Mondello was trying to sell me a $250 set of zero gap rings. My Machinist said a set of Hastings or other American Moly rings should be good for my application. What type of rings do you recommend?

bspaulding

The Mondello pistons needed to be machined for rod clearance, delaying installation. Needed to machine about 1/8" out of the pistons for rod clearance to be able to install rods.

Don't know what my rebuilder is using for rings---suggest you contact Ross for their input.

I also used a mondello camshaft that we think contributed to the second engine failure. We had two "cam experts" check it and it was a disaster as one guy put it. Not enough overlap and too fast a ramp are just a couple of issues they found. It had to be reground.

So between the cam and the pistons, I am thinking mondello has lost its touch with the early engines.

Charlie Jones

Ross Pistons (in Calif. ) is completely a separate company from Ross Racing Engines ( Tony Ross )( in Ohio ) .

bspaulding

Thanks Charlie---by Ross I was referring to Ross racing back east. I did not know about Ross pistons in California.

Rockabilly Hooligan

bspaulding..Thanks for the reply and info on piston mods. I am a newbie to vintage Olds and old cars in general. I am trying learn as much as I can by reading and asking questions. The two short times I spoke to Tony at Ross racing, he was not very helpful and seemed very annoyed. Like I was not smart enough to talk to and was wasting his time so I took my business else where. I know Tony has a business to run and I tried not to take up his valuable time but I like to be an informed buyer and understand exactly what I am buying.


I bought my cam from Camcrafters. They specialize in cams for older engines like the Olds 371. The very nice and gregarious older Gentlemen, Charles, that founded the company and still runs it said he provides cams to Ross Racing and Egge. Have not installed cam but he said it's designed for specially designed for mild performance for my 371 and Jetaway Trans I have. What were your cam specs in your Egge cam? Were they similar to the mine (see attached).