Replacing Iron Pistons With Aluminum

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Anyone experienced any noticeable difference is engine performance or smoothness after rebuilding with aluminum pistons? I think my Series 80 may have aluminum pistons and I got the old ones with the car; they’re iron.

 

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I swapped aluminum pistons for the original cast iron ones into a Model T years ago and it made a huge difference. It was a low mileage car and the bore was standard, one cylinder was belled a few thousands so boring wasn’t necessary. My typical experience is that when you switch pistons you bore as well so I’d expect it to be much different.

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A lighter piston means less reciprocating mass.  So the engine should have a bit more power and accelerate quicker.

As long as the piston and connecting rod assemblies weights are balanced, the engine should run smooth.

Our 6 cylinder crankshafts are balanced.  As well as the flywheel and clutch assembly.

Greg Long

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