Wisecos or AA Forged?

[2332turboSF]

What do you guys think? My mahle set is toast so my options until mahle gets their sh*t together is to get a set of AA FORGED P/B's (not the cheap cast ones) for $380 OR get the wisecos on sale for $350 and get my current barrels machined and honed to fit them (not sure how much that would be). I have searched and read the crap out of AA pistons and called a couple shops. To me it seems that people bashing aa's for turbo use have been maybe using cast and now want to assume all their pistons are junk.
Of course the obvious choice would be the wiseco direction but how about the condition of my barrels? Do they degrade over time? Would it be stupid to put those bad a$$ pistons in a set of tired and worn barrels?

I was originally going to get a new set of mahle barrels and re-ring my pistons but my order got kicked back because I cant get barrels now either

[miniman82]

No, the people running turbos/nitrous with AA's were using their 'forged' pistons. I don't know anyone who would willingly race a cast piston, that's just plain ignorant. You should get Weisco pistons and hone your jugs to suit. If your jugs are worn, you can always use an AA cylinder with the better slugs.
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Build thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=212747

[2332turboSF]

Bummer it wouldve been so much easier lol. O well I guess Ill bite the bullet on this one.

[2332turboSF]

...heres a thought! Cant I just use 92mm b"s?? what would I have to do?

[mharney]

Wisecos hands down.. they are great pistons. AA is too much of a gamble to me.

[miniman82]

You mean the thick 92's? yeah I guess, but why sacrifice CC's if you don't have to?
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Build thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=212747

[slalombuggy]

If you're building a stroker turbo, get the Wiseco's and get the long 94 barrels and get them cut to the length you need. All the top guys on UAC agree the AA forged pistons are great, for a NA motor not turbo though. Several suppliers sell the long barrels. And if you are in doubt of yours, why put $400 pistons in questionable cylinders?

brad

[mharney]

Why spend $380 on a set of AAs of ANY kind when you can get Wisecos for $350?

[2332turboSF]

[Eaallred]

Another vote for Wiseco's here.
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Eric Allred

You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; Jealousy you have to earn.

[2332turboSF]

I do have another question though...

I have about 5 hours on this pb set after a hone job and new rings and they obviously never seated so since those stupid total seal 2nd rings cost so much is there any way I could re-use them? They look new still, as a matter of fact the smaller ring has the chrome on the outside still...

[miniman82]

I reuse rings all the time, so long as you can still get the right end gap they will seat to another properly honed cylinder no problem.
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Build thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=212747

[2332turboSF]

[2332turboSF]

Wow....I decided to do a little research on total seal gapless rings over the last hour or two. Ive been told by vw people that these are almost a necessity with turbos.
If this is the case than why is it that almost EVERY single performance forum I have just read through (hondas, toyotas, dodge etc...) advise AGAINST using gapless rings with forced induction?? Talk about confusing lol. Im serious, for every person that recommended them there were at least 10 that said to stay away from them unless you are building a N/A engine .

[miniman82]

Iron rings can lose their tension/break apart on high boost engines because of excess heat or detonation, thus causing blow by. But they are good for street turbos because they seat fast and last a long time. I've been boosting stock mahle stuff for a long time now, and I still don't have a blow by problem at 12 PSI. High compression, high boost, and heavy duty engines typically use a chrome plated ring for durability.
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Build thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=212747

[mark tucker]

I use total seal in everything, if you are going to boost it, just gap accordingly.No2 also needs extra gap, mainly on the top ring,but you dont want the 2nd to butt either,be safe and gap them for what there are intended to use.you can always call total seal and get thier recamended gap for your size and air cooled app with turblo.a little extra gap on the total seal 2nd ring wont hurt it,it's still gapless.and dont forget to deburr the ring where you gap it. goodluck

[2332turboSF]

I got bored driving this morning with the rings on my mind so I gave the total seal a call.....
Very nice people and they know their stuff thats for sure. He told me that they definately dont "have" to be used but they do aid in reduced blow by and a couple other things but what was really nice is he said I could "Definately" re-use the rings and they should seat back up to a properly honed cylinder no problem since I have such low time on them. That just saved me $80 I would consider using the grant set over also but I think id like to go with mahle anyway for the chrome plated top ring. Their cheap enough so what the heck
I honestly doubt that Id be able to tell any difference in the engine with or without them so in the future Ill probly just stick with straight mahles.