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Forged or Cast?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Skoobie
  • Start date Start date Apr 19, 2018

Skoobie

Damn...Tyler65's hot!
May 25, 2003
655
0
17
Vancouver, WA
Apr 19, 2018
#1
  • Apr 19, 2018
  • #1
Hi everyone.
Been absent from the forums for quite some time. Was hoping someone could help identify these pistons for me? They are a set of Jahns racing pistons for a AMC 390. I can't tell if they are forged or cast however. Can you guys tell from these photos? Thanks in advance for the help!

 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,151
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234
Box behind Walmart
Apr 19, 2018
#2
  • Apr 19, 2018
  • #2
According to this, they seem to be boat anchors. I guess it depends on how old they are.

The thread also includes a couple of fierce defenders.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/jahns-pistons-m-t-outdated-technology.336187/
 

Hoytster

I don't dare do that to my Knob
20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 30, 2002
1,069
700
164
Cornwall, PA
Apr 19, 2018
#3
  • Apr 19, 2018
  • #3
And If I'm reading this correctly, they are forged.

Post #4
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/were-all-jahns-pistons-forged.29857/
 
I

I only know what I know

Member
Apr 17, 2018
88
4
8
Michigan
Apr 30, 2018
#4
  • Apr 30, 2018
  • #4
Never say never but I don't think Jahns made anything but cast pistons until they changed there name to JE, Jahns Engineering.

If you've got plans that call for 13:1 pistons I'd like to hear more about what you're up to. The AMC 390 was a pretty good motor that is seldom mentioned. Had a 390 Javelin for 8 days in high school before it was totaled by a drunk driver trying to miss a stopped school bus but he hit us both.

FWIW, the AMC 360, 390 and 401 block was considered the strongest small block of this size in its day. They were built with 2 bolt mains but designed to allow for 4 bolt mains in the block and caps. The heads were considered anemic with the stock compression but came to life with higher compression pistons. It was a less expensive alternative to raise the compression than to change or alter the heads. In their day turbo's were almost unheard of and super chargers on the street weren't very common like they are today. At that time most people chased compression not boost.
 
Last edited: Apr 30, 2018
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