Bruce,

I'll have to get a copy as I let my subscription lapse some months ago. I have never heard of oval pistons. Maybe we'll learn something new. We are however using oval bearings. This is a trick NASCAR teams have used for some time. As for the steel barrels, we are using steel barrels because they are stronger. As for nikasil, that is old school for steel barrels. There is a currently a better process.

 

cjv I figured you knew this stuff but I have rarely seen magazine articles that talk about Porsche internal engine mods. other than rods and studs. Regarding the oval pistons, 9ff found that at high temperatures the round pistons were becoming slightly oval and scored the steel liners because of dfferent expansion rates for the 2 metals. The oval pistons when hot expanded to round. Their point of different expansion rates and the issues that would cause for the 2 metals does make sense. They also said that they found only 1 supplier that could bond nikasil to steel liners. It made for interesting reading and I figured you might find it useful. Like many others on this board I look forward to your KA updates.

 

Craig

Will this modified intake plenum fit my littl2 3.2 on the boxster or do you have a part like it that will? E-mail me I would also like some info on your headers?

 

JP, I have no idea if Speed Gallery's intake plenum will fit your 3.2 (I kinda doubt it, but I really dont know) -- call Speed Gallery at (818) 766-2321.

My headers are ported, polished, ceramic coated OEM headers. Speed Gallery supplied them.

Craig

 

Thanks, I will call them.

 

Only Honda had enough resources to produce an oval piston motor for motorcycle racing. They also produced the NR750 which is a street version using oval pistons. I have no idea how 9ff would engineer and finance this whole thing, if it's true. It's extremly expensive and it takes the resources of a huge corporation like Honda to make it work.

 

03-turbo911 Who knows, maybe 9ff's talk of oval pistons is BS.

 

Well, been almost 3 weeks. Where are those pics?


We're hungry for info

 

Oval pistons have been around for at least 35 years. The forged off the shelf TRW pistons from the 70's for American cars were/are "cam ground" to avoid scruffing. The skirts are are slightly larger O.D. in the center of the thrust area. You have to measure the piston to cylinder wall clearance in the center of the piston skirt.

 

carnut,

I haven't been available since July 29th. I just returned home today. Needless to say I have alot of catching up to do.

Boat tailing .............. I paid to have this performed by CNC. I will have the program when finished. Talked to Rob today and he said the machine shop isn't finished yet. Suppose to be finished by the end of next week. I'll post pics as soon as I have them.

Rob says he has the intake valves, heads, turbo's and headers back from HPC. He really likes the work they did on the valves. Hope to have some pics soon. Rob's Office Manger and Girl Monday recently got married and isn't in the office (honeymoon). Can you believe it, no pics without Dee. As soon as I get the pics I will post.

As for the last part we are waiting for? The exhaust valves. Manley will be finished making them this Friday. They are an exotic alloy, something called Exotic XH-432. They are capable of handling Nitro Funny Car Motor's.

What does this all mean? We will have the last parts next week and then we have a two week waiting period while the faces and stems are being coated. In other words, we will start assembling the motor around September 7th.

One last item, the front and rear differencials have been tested and both differencials will be prepped returned to us by September 15th.

 

"Exotic XH-432" sounds like some new incurable std.

 

For those with any real interest, go to www.manleyperformance.com . Go to products, then stainless steel valves, then extreme duty series.

Remember, Manley was able to make the exhaust valves, but not the intake valves. The intakes are make of the same type of material, however the manufacturer is Forrea Valves. www.ferrea.com

 

Chad,

Welcome back.

I looked at the Manley site and then searched the web to find some additional info. A page I found stated that Inconel is usually reserved for exhaust valves(this was in reference to a marine application, so it may not be germane to this discussion). Do you know why that is?

Ferrea's site says, How much difference is there between Ferrea's inconel valves and Manley's Exotic XH-432? I'm curious as to why you didn't get both sets of valves from Ferrea?

Greg A

 

Hi Greg,

Manley and Ferrea valves are made of slightly different materials. The thing they have in common is they are both designed for extreme applications ........... Top Fuel, Nitrous and High Boost. This is why we choose this type of valve for KA.

The reason we had to go to two different manufacturer's was we enlarged the valve sizes for both the intake and the exhaust (when we cnc'ed the head, valve openings and ports) on the GT3 Cup heads. Ferrea made intake valves in the size we required, but did not make large enough exhaust valves. Manley made an exhaust valve in the size we required, but did not make an intake in a large enough size. Hence we have Ferrea intakes and Manley exhausts.

 

Chad,

Thank you for the explanation.

Will you also be posting pics of your new diffs after they return?

Greg A