TheSamba.com :: View topic - Should I Use The Mahle Pistons I Found In My Garage?

Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:35 pm

Nice day out so I decided to take some time to clean out the garage.

There in a box of parts I traded a friend for 15 years ago when he swore off home-maintenance on his VWs lay a beautiful set of brand new 77mm German Mahle pistons with rings and pins.

Well, okay at least they were brand new circa whenever - original price sticker $8 each. They still have a nice thin coat of oil and were very clean due to being wrapped in a perfectly packed and taped wax paper wrapping. Thanks Germany!

I have my engine out for other reasons, and I'm tempted to put in these good looking pistons. My engine is a stock 36hp. I believe it has the original VW connecting rods, pistons (except for one but that's another story), cylinders, etc.

I've heard that Mahle redesigns are not a direct replacement and may require replacement connecting rods.

What do you think? Is there a simple upgrade path that doesn't require calculus-level stroke calculations to succeed in implementing?

Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:48 pm

Are they for a 36hp or 40hp? I think both are 77mm but are different in other areas. If they are the correct ones I'd use 'em in a heart beat.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:25 pm

You could ship them to me, I'll use them for ya.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:55 pm

Yes. They have "36 hp" written in red marker on the box.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:03 am

I have Mahle pistons and cylinders in my '65 (40hp) and I'm using the stock connecting rods.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:11 am

If they are correct, why not?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:50 am

Joey - thanks that helps a lot.

Mayhem - Agreed. With the change in skirt size, etc, I didn't know if they would be a direct replacement or would require additional mods which I don't want to make. I like it that nearly everything in my engine came from the factory and that the few wear cycle/rebuilds it's seen never made it past rings, bearings, etc ... the components that were intended to wear!

Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:57 pm

Save em until you need them. Always nice to have extras.