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

worth changing stock flat tops?

  • Thread starter Thread starter johnsplowing207
  • Start date Start date Mar 8, 2010
J

johnsplowing207

New Member
Mar 1, 2010
99
0
0
sanford maine
Mar 8, 2010
#1
  • Mar 8, 2010
  • #1
changing the heads and intake.got it torn down to the block,is it worth pulling the motor to change the stock flat tops to 4vr pistons?
 

korywiesner

New Member
Sep 28, 2007
15
1
0
Gray, tn
Mar 9, 2010
#2
  • Mar 9, 2010
  • #2
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

You can run a much better cam profile. If you ever upgrade to mass air that is.
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
15 Year Member
Oct 31, 2006
5,525
943
214
Chengdu Province
Mar 9, 2010
#3
  • Mar 9, 2010
  • #3
You could do the shade tree mechanic thing and notch the pistons while they're in the block. I believe Isky sells a cutting tool just for that use.
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
Nov 11, 2003
6,945
1,598
223
Northern KY
Mar 9, 2010
#4
  • Mar 9, 2010
  • #4
If you wanna be extremely low buck about it...get yourself a junkyard head for as cheap as possible. Pull all the valves out and then try to find some Chevy 1.94 intake valves...or valve since you only need one of them. Use the 1.94 and a 1.60 exhaust valve from the head....buy some sticky back sandpaper like you would use on an orbital sander. Cut it to fit the head of the valve, slip it up through the head and connect a drill to the top of the valve stem and go to work. You don't need to cut them very much. Try to make them all the same depth and stay away from the edge of the piston if you can avoid it. This is as low buck as it gets for notching pistons. The end result will be a slightly higher compression ratio piston than you would get with the other pistons and it shouldn't cost you any more than it would to replace the rings when you swap to the other pistons. Or if you can get the Isky tools...sure, but they'll cost you a lot more and you'll get the same results.
 

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?
5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2009
5,222
3,255
204
South Jersey
Mar 9, 2010
#5
  • Mar 9, 2010
  • #5
NikwoaC said:
You could do the shade tree mechanic thing and notch the pistons while they're in the block. I believe Isky sells a cutting tool just for that use.
Click to expand...

I've used a dremel, as ghetto as it sounds. The car went 10.50's for almost a year (balancer broke and split the block)
 
J

johnsplowing207

New Member
Mar 1, 2010
99
0
0
sanford maine
Mar 9, 2010
#6
  • Mar 9, 2010
  • #6
do stock flat tops say twr pistons on the underside?
 
J

johnsplowing207

New Member
Mar 1, 2010
99
0
0
sanford maine
Mar 9, 2010
#7
  • Mar 9, 2010
  • #7
should I just replace the flat tops?seems like a pain in the a$$ to valve cut the stock pistons
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
4.6L 4 valve Sleeve
  • DangStitches
  • Oct 10, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
126
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 20, 2026
DangStitches
D
Engine Forged flat top pistons from 5.0 fit a 351 build?
  • PonyGTrider
  • May 22, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
17
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 1, 2026
PonyGTrider
Engine Suggestions on an engine rebuild. Stock cam/GT40Ps or aftermarket on both for a fun weekend driver?
  • MadSquirrelTech
  • Apr 28, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 7, 2026
MadSquirrelTech
S
Block questions
  • s_vargas54
  • Jan 25, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Feb 8, 2026
Trogdor
Fox Xtremely high fuel consumption
  • PonyGTrider
  • Apr 11, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 9 10 11
Replies
213
Views
6K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 9, 2026
PonyGTrider
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?