• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

It's not a 302, so what pistons do i have?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marlboro_Man
  • Start date Start date Oct 10, 2006
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
M

Marlboro_Man

Member
Sep 30, 2005
437
1
18
Houston, TX
Oct 10, 2006
#1
  • Oct 10, 2006
  • #1
Well i got the heads off tonight, and the first thing i noticed is the pistons say .030 right in the middle.

I go check my spare block which is a stock 89 block and the pistons say ford on them.

Bust out the dial caliper and sure enough the cylender bore is 4.030 .

The pistons do not say anything other than ".030" on them, but they look just like the pistons in my stock short block other then that.

Anybody have any clue what pistons these are?

Is there anyway to tell if they're forged or hyperU-CRAPPED-IT???

Pics of the mystery 306 pistons.
View attachment 434214
View attachment 434216
View attachment 434218

Oh and whats the best way to clean these pups? Or is it not even worth doing?
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
3
58
Port Elgin, Ontario
Oct 10, 2006
#2
  • Oct 10, 2006
  • #2
306
 
M

Marlboro_Man

Member
Sep 30, 2005
437
1
18
Houston, TX
Oct 10, 2006
#3
  • Oct 10, 2006
  • #3
Roland69 said:
306
Click to expand...
Thank you captain obvious


I know it's a 306, didn't know that before i pulled the heads though.

What i'm wondering is what brand/type they are. Forged or hyper, if it's even possible to tell without pulling them out of the block and having them sent to some crazy smart metalurgist type place.
 

stang8urimport

Autozone Junkie
Founding Member
Jun 21, 2002
1,499
12
59
Daytona Beach, FL
Oct 11, 2006
#4
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #4
Roland69 said:
306
Click to expand...


Best tech of the year!

They look sorta like TRW pistons with the stock type 4 reliefs. take the pistons out and see if you can find a part number... Then Rick91GT can probably tell you more about them.
 
M

Marlboro_Man

Member
Sep 30, 2005
437
1
18
Houston, TX
Oct 11, 2006
#5
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #5
PoopDawg said:


Best tech of the year!

They look sorta like TRW pistons with the stock type 4 reliefs. take the pistons out and see if you can find a part number... Then Rick91GT can probably tell you more about them.
Click to expand...
I I I , this was supposed to be a simple headswap.

Don't wanna take the pistons out, even if thats the only way to know for sure. It's just out of the budget right now.

I've spent $3000 in the last two months, just on my car.
If my wife knew that.....well lets just say she would be pissed lol.
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Oct 11, 2006
#6
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #6
Marlboro_Man said:
I I I , this was supposed to be a simple headswap.

Don't wanna take the pistons out, even if thats the only way to know for sure. It's just out of the budget right now.

I've spent $3000 in the last two months, just on my car.
If my wife knew that.....well lets just say she would be pissed lol.
Click to expand...
If she did, the "I love Marlboro Man" sign might say something else....
 

88Stang331

New Member
Mar 30, 2006
239
0
0
Oct 11, 2006
#7
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #7
jrichker said:
If she did, the "I love Marlboro Man" sign might say something else....
Click to expand...

Or she might be doing something else besides holding a sign that says "I love marlboro man" But if she asks you can't lie about it...tell her you needed to get your car to run so you can get to work.
 

Modular2v

Founding Member
Jun 30, 2002
3,222
23
99
oklahoma
Oct 11, 2006
#8
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #8
the real question now is. . . . how do you know the rods and crank are stock? You might have a 331 or 347 on your hands and not know it
 

blkcobra50

New Member
Jul 24, 2006
209
0
0
Oct 11, 2006
#9
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #9
a lot of times ID ing pistons requires looking underneath in the wrist pin area. TRW pistons a stamped underneath with the part #, at least the ones I've seen are.
 
M

Marlboro_Man

Member
Sep 30, 2005
437
1
18
Houston, TX
Oct 11, 2006
#10
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #10
Modular2v said:
the real question now is. . . . how do you know the rods and crank are stock? You might have a 331 or 347 on your hands and not know it
Click to expand...
I guess i don't. If it's stroked it sure was a slow stroker.

The car had a S/C on it at one time. I know because the oil pan is tapped, boost gauge inside, mounts under the hatch for an external pump, ect ect. Now i find out it's a 306.

I wonder what the cc is on the pistons. They don't look like low compression pistons do they?




jrichker said:
If she did, the "I love Marlboro Man" sign might say something else....
Click to expand...
yeah more like
 
8

86bluecobra

Advanced Member
Dec 20, 2004
4,265
12
69
B.C. Canada
Oct 11, 2006
#11
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #11
if it was a s/c engine i bet the guy bought forged.
 
8

86bluecobra

Advanced Member
Dec 20, 2004
4,265
12
69
B.C. Canada
Oct 11, 2006
#12
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #12
your pistons look like these to me.
http://store.summitracing.com/partd...908331+4294840126+4294891096+115&autoview=sku
 

Modular2v

Founding Member
Jun 30, 2002
3,222
23
99
oklahoma
Oct 11, 2006
#13
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #13
no! those are not low compression pistons, they are flat tops
 

sgarlic

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2001
3,085
1
56
Oct 11, 2006
#14
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #14
You could always threaten one of the pistons until it gives up the info.. or you could hit one with a hammer really hard.. if it shatters, its hyper.. if not, probably forged..
 

5ive.oh

Founding Member
Feb 23, 2001
195
0
0
Rocky Mountain House, AB
Oct 11, 2006
#15
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #15
+1
 

z2o_what

Member
Mar 31, 2005
309
1
19
princeton, WV
Oct 11, 2006
#16
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #16
pull the oil pan off and use a flash-lite to see if you can see a part number inside the piston
 
M

Marlboro_Man

Member
Sep 30, 2005
437
1
18
Houston, TX
Oct 12, 2006
#17
  • Oct 12, 2006
  • #17
z2o_what said:
pull the oil pan off and use a flash-lite to see if you can see a part number inside the piston
Click to expand...
I tried using my extendable mirror and flashlight through the cam hole but i couldn't find any numbers or letters under them.

Modular2v said:
no! those are not low compression pistons, they are flat tops
Click to expand...
I thought Flat tops had no reliefs? Hence the name...

After looking at the summit link 86bluecobra posted it says they are Dish pistons.


86bluecobra said:
if it was a s/c engine i bet the guy bought forged.
Click to expand...
Thats what i'm thinking/hoping. Well forged or hypers they've liked the 100 shot so far

sgarlic said:
You could always threaten one of the pistons until it gives up the info.. or you could hit one with a hammer really hard.. if it shatters, its hyper.. if not, probably forged..
Click to expand...
Last night i had a spotlight pointed at it and my .380 in my hand and they still wouldn't talk.

Maybe i'll try the hammer tommorow.....




86bluecobra said:
your pistons look like these to me.
http://store.summitracing.com/partd...908331+4294840126+4294891096+115&autoview=sku
Click to expand...
Yes they do look like those. Except the ones in my block don't have any markings on top like those appear to. The only marking mine have is .030
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
3
58
Port Elgin, Ontario
Oct 12, 2006
#18
  • Oct 12, 2006
  • #18
Marlboro_Man said:
Thank you captain obvious
Click to expand...


that's Corporal Tangnet......sir
 
F

FobraR

Member
Jul 11, 2003
120
0
17
Southern California
Oct 13, 2006
#19
  • Oct 13, 2006
  • #19
from those pics, it looks to be hypers. of all the pistons ive seen, forged slugs usually dont sit that tight in the bore because they expand more under heat. but then again, pictures are deceiving. get a part# to be sure. just my .02
 

MikeC

Founding Member
Aug 1, 2002
240
0
16
SLC, UT
Oct 13, 2006
#20
  • Oct 13, 2006
  • #20
They definatly have a small dish in the center.
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

6
Hey all,I’m putting together a 302 for my 1968 Mustang and wanted to post the combo + some questions to make sure I’m not missing crucial
  • 68_Disgustang
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
883
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Jun 20, 2026
gray owl
G
  • Locked
Engine Might have to get a Dart block but don't want to and if I do, then 363 instead of 331. Thoughts on what I've already bought so far.......
  • from6to8
  • Jul 8, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
499
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jul 8, 2025
Noobz347
S
Requesting Guidance for 306 motor swap - Fuel? - SD? MAF?
  • So_Flo
  • Jul 26, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
32
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 4, 2026
Mcmahst
Might have to get a Dart block but don't want to and if I do, then 363 instead of 331. Thoughts on what I've already bought so far.......
  • from6to8
  • Jul 8, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
52
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jul 9, 2025
from6to8
For Sale 94 Cobra 408w AOD Project For Sale
  • Labora
  • Oct 11, 2024
  • SN95 Mustangs For Sale (1994-04)
Replies
1
Views
1K
SN95 Mustangs For Sale (1994-04) Apr 7, 2025
Labora
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?