Piston Knurling

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John Evans
Posts: 2366
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Phoenix ,AZ

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by John Evans »

I had a Chevrolet 216 ci engine years ago that had no oil pump, dippers on the rod caps and cast iron pistons....and they were round too. It had a felt pad laid on the rocker shaft assembly as a drip oil supply from the mist from that whirling (3600 rpm max) ball of fire. An explosion going somewhere to happen...

BC
Sorry but they most definitely had oil pumps ,sold more than one in my auto parts career. Felt pad was a aftermarket item to quite the noise and help with lube as those engines had some issues with oil supply to the top end with age. Chevy 4's from the 20's did not have pressure feed to the rocker area and used those pads stock for lube. Worked on more than one of the above in my life.
www.chaski.com
BClemens
Posts: 475
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2016 10:04 pm
Location: Gloucester, VA (Sassafras)

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by BClemens »

John Evans wrote: Wed Apr 04, 2018 11:05 pm
I had a Chevrolet 216 ci engine years ago that had no oil pump, dippers on the rod caps and cast iron pistons....and they were round too. It had a felt pad laid on the rocker shaft assembly as a drip oil supply from the mist from that whirling (3600 rpm max) ball of fire. An explosion going somewhere to happen...

BC
Sorry but they most definitely had oil pumps ,sold more than one in my auto parts career. Felt pad was a aftermarket item to quite the noise and help with lube as those engines had some issues with oil supply to the top end with age. Chevy 4's from the 20's did not have pressure feed to the rocker area and used those pads stock for lube. Worked on more than one of the above in my life.
You are absolutely right - the 216 had an oil pump but by today's standards - it had no oil pump. I kept it running in a '37 Chevrolet for a number of years but finally upgraded the engine and driveline. Before that I installed an aftermarket kit to run an external oil line to the top end but the pump couldn't even do that... If it didn't have the dippers on the rods it would have destroyed itself early on. And you're right about the noisy top end...sounded like skeletons dancing on a tin roof. I thought about going to a 235 but was talked into a 283 - the beginning of the blow-up queens.
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Harold_V
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Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 11:02 pm
Location: Onalaska, WA USA

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by Harold_V »

There was a distinct difference in those days between Chevrolet and GMC. The GMC 6 cylinder engines had full pressure oiling, including drilled rods providing pressure oiling to the wrist pins.

H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
BClemens
Posts: 475
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2016 10:04 pm
Location: Gloucester, VA (Sassafras)

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by BClemens »

Harold_V wrote: Thu Apr 05, 2018 3:21 pm There was a distinct difference in those days between Chevrolet and GMC. The GMC 6 cylinder engines had full pressure oiling, including drilled rods providing pressure oiling to the wrist pins.

H
Yes, that was a merger that seemed to cheapen both. And now today the difference is a basic badge. At least GMC didn't make a car....Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile took care of the car end. (forgot Cadillac - I drive a CTS-V presently)

I used to work some old marine engines that were a marvel in technology for I C engines. Continental, Gray Marine, Red Wing, etc. and then the old diesels. They were built to last a lifetime with massive main and rod bearings and some even had a second oil control ring under the wrist pin. We had an exchange program going with the Universal Atomic 4 marine engine - as fast as we could recondition them. I'm so glad I'm out of that! I will not change oil in a car any more either!

BC
dly31
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Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:29 pm
Location: Northeast Alabama

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by dly31 »

I well remember the piston knurling and Rancomizing machines. There were also flat springs that were inserted inside the skirts and pressed between the pin bosses and the skirt. There was a special plier-like tool to install them. They were called 'piston expanders'. There was also a hand tool with rollers that fit over the skirt. The inner roller was sharp edged and rolled grooves in the aluminum to expand the piston. This was during and just after WW2 when you had to make do with what you had. New parts were just not available in many cases. You had to get a special needs certificate from your local ration board to buy a tire and you didn't get it unless your vehicle filled some critical need.
Don Young
Herb Kephart
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:05 am

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by Herb Kephart »

I made a threaded device to go inside a piston skirt (aluminum skirt) that can force more ovality into it, and thereby increase its "size."

Have also made pistons by turning the heads from aluminum bar stock, and heliarc welding skirts on.
VmazKen
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:36 pm

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by VmazKen »

Not always the case - a ("cheap bandaid") We got our 'start' building motorcycle drag race motors.(mainly modified CB750s, and Z1 900s, and 1000s)
And yes we knurled more than one brand new piston. They were quiet, dependable, and seemed to keep their rings working longer
one modified CB750 (street bike) was ridden (2up) 40 odd miles to Fremont international Race Way, turned 11.70s in that quarter mile, and (still 2up) raced a Z1, pulled him down from behind, and beat him from a 55mph 'roll on. Many miles latter the CB750 was still running strong, it was sold, the new owner took it apart, and sold the high performance components.

2 years later, we built an 836cc CB 750 for my father to ride to Penn. and back to San Francisco.

So theories, and 'educated guesses aside, I speak from actual experience, and not 'hear-say', or 'fake news!' Yes we still knurl pistons today, still using the "often heard of', but seldom seen" Perfect Circle 'Knurlitzer'.

Modified, and improved, for smoother, quieter, easier operation. Which I will be putting up for sale soon..... Asking price $1500.00

(I am retiring because of health concerns)

Kenny Cresci
http://motorcycletiresandservice.com.
Direct call line: 415-706-9542
VmazKen
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:36 pm

Re: Piston Knurling

Post by VmazKen »

I like your 'outside the box', thinking. years ago, we had an Austin Healey, with bad compression-(#1 cylinder) Leakdown' test seemed to reveal a ring problem, so we pulled the head off, fully expecting to replace, rebore, and/or ))hone rings and cylinder.

What we found was #1 cylinder had a very obvious hole in the piston. i called our 'go to guy' for exotic metal welding.
another 'outside the Box' thinker -(we seem to find each other). My main concern was 'ring/ cylinder damage'. So he used a very sharp 'pick' through the carbon on the piston, an extra set of hands - (mine). With the ground clamped to the pick / scrib) (from tig welder) A direct to piston dome contact (no ring /cylinder damage) Started up without a problem - Idled well, and as far as I know still running.

I could tell you so many 'outside the box' success stories which so many 'Snap On snobs' would have told you : "is ((N-O-T))) the proper 'procedure'".
A very smart and able 'fleet mechanic', and race engine builder once told me : "Ken, Sometimes the line between 'enovative engineering' , and improper procedure can be an extremely thin one".

(I really miss talking to you, John).

Ken
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