Dave Young Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 I need one standard piston for a '29 Chandler Royal 8. This is a 3-3/8" cast iron with 3 ring groves. Old stock would be my preference. The hunt is just getting underway as I saw a hairline crack on one of them as I began the reassembly process. I wish I could just look away and run it with the crack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Try here....https://egge.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old car fan Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 (edited) Wilber try egge,they may have it.Do not know.There are more hubcaps than cars out there. Edited February 3, 2018 by old car fan (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 If that were my engine, I would get eight new pistons from Ross. What do you think the chances are you will get a piston of the same weight and design of your old one. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 I would go with Curti as far as using all new pistons. The first time I overhauled my engine I put all new cast pistons in from Eggee. Less drag with less and thinner rings and only $12.00 each. They lasted over 300,000 miles. On my last overhaul I could not get cast pistons so used a set of so bought a set of forged pistons at $200.00 each. Considering the value of our older vehicles and the difficulty of finding parts both major and minor I would not take the chance. Do it once and do it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Young Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 Curti, who is Ross? I think the chances of finding one are about as low as chances can get... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46 woodie Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Yes, egge, you won't get a better place. They have been making odd pistons for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 A friend replaced one piston in his '38 Buick. As Curti says, you end up with an unbalanced engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 20 minutes ago, West Peterson said: A friend replaced one piston in his '38 Buick. As Curti says, you end up with an unbalanced engine. Best to let Egge weigh the existing pistons and make one to match. I think they will do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Did Chandler make their own engines or buy them from Continental or other specialist engine maker? This could make a difference in finding parts. A quick web search revealed that Chandler was taken over by Hupmobile shortly after your car was built. There used to be a Hupmobile parts specialist who had what remained of the Hup parts stock when they bit the dust. There is a chance he has pistons if he is still around. You never know your luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalowed Bill Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Sorry but I had to give up on Egge. There catalog showed pistons for my 1937 Studebaker, straight 8, but when I called they said that they were out, and not expecting to make more. I had used these guys several times, over the previous 40 years, and that was an unexpected change that I wasn't expecting. I persisted, but was genuinely rebuffed. He finally said of course they could make one set, as a special order. I asked how much and when could you do the work? A couple of months and better part of $2000 for as set of cast pistons. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, what a joke! Went to Aries for a set of beautiful forged pistons, and rings for about the same price. I won't waste my time with Egge, in the future. I hope that others have had a better experience then I did. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 http://www.rosspistons.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Arias (please note spelling) or Ross. IIRC , Egge goes to Arias to make their forged Pistons for them. Deal with the experts at the source. An benefit of a new set of forged Pistons is to take advantage of the chance to raise your compression ratio. - CC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgreen Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Based on my experience last fall, it appears that Egge is selling off their inventory and planning to get out of the game. I was looking for what I expected to be a fairly common 1940 Buick piston. They had sets of 0.030 over and no other sizes. They told me that they would only make a special order size if I ordered dozens of sets. When the last of the 30 over were sold, they did not plan to make more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Young Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 This is all excellent information. Thanks to everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 franklin Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Another vote Ross or Arias. The other company had quite a few problems years back. Most of my friends wont buy ANYTHING from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 All I can say is that over the years I have used Egge numerous times. Never got anything but great service and a great product. Not sure if Ernie Silvers is still there but a terrific guy. As to the future of the company I see that they are registered as a vendor at the AACA Annual Meeting next week and I will ask Bob and Judith for their comments and report back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Young Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 No one has said anything about the crack on the piston in the photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 4 minutes ago, wilbur said: No one has said anything about the crack on the piston in the photo. It's a crack. It's not good. I would not use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 A piston with a crack is a paperweight or an ash tray. What else is there to say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 We went to Egge for a set of Kissel pistons a few years ago. They could not provide them, saying they had had a fire and their wooden patterns for the particular size pistons we needed had burned in the fire. We called Aries and guess what? Their wooden patterns for that size piston had also burned in a fire they had. Read into this what you will. We ended up using forged pistons from Ross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 18 hours ago, wilbur said: Curti, who is Ross? I think the chances of finding one are about as low as chances can get... Go here : http://www.rosspistons.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c49er Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 (edited) I recently used Arias for new custom forged pistons in a rare Dodge engine. They did a beautiful job. Edited February 3, 2018 by c49er (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Young Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 I like how this is getting narrowed down. I have reached out to both Ross and Arias through email, being a Saturday. Does anyone know of any old hoarder who may have this stuff in a box in a shed somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 You might try an ad in Hemmings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Young Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 Bob, may I ask what the set of 8 cost you from Arias? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c49er Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 The set of six pistons was $1100.00. W/ 1-1/8" H-duty pins and ring set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Young Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chistech Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Another vote for Ross Racing Pistons. I recently had a set of 6 made for my F32 Olds. Pistons, ring set, and oversize wrist pins were $836 delivered to my door. It took them 3-4 weeks after I put in the order and they told me 6-8 weeks because they were busy. These things are basically a piece of art and are almost too nice to put into a motor, never to be seen again. Working with Mike (he handles the antique/custom pistons) was great. Luckily another olds owner had Ross make pistons for him a couple years earlier. By giving Mike that guys previous order number, he simply looked up the specs in their system and duplicated the piston to my .020 overbore. Mike even suggested shortening the full length wrist pin for a weight savings. These are forged aluminum. Egge wanted $1,230 for just the pistons alone and they were cast aluminum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 (edited) Ross or Aries are the ONLY way to go, and trust me, most of what is being sold today to collectors is JUNK from the far east. Buy a set of valves from any supplier and do a Rockwell hardness check on them, they will test out at less than half the factory valves. Now we just make all of our own valves from German blanks, and C&C them. It costs more, but no issues, worth every penny. PS: My two sets of Ross pistons arrived last week, and they are perfect. Sure is nice dealing with professionals, on time, on budget, no excuses. Currently when I spoke to them several weeks ago, Aries is backed up with work. Edited February 7, 2018 by edinmass (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Last set of another named brand listed on this thread had three cracked piston skirts in less than one thousand miles, and two broken rings. I wont post the name, as my earlier post was removed........ I did not install them, I just had to clean up the mess, pistons, rings, valves, there is a lot of poor work being done today by people who just dont know pre war engines. As most of the say, its just a flat head. About 75 percent of engines that come through the shop today are do overs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 It is a shame your post was removed Ed, people need to be informed. There was a set of Auburn pistons delivered to a ACD club member that one of the pin holes was bored too low. He didn't notice it until the piston hit the head. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3makes Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Years ago, I sent a sample piston to the aforementioned and name removed company to have new pistons made. They lost the sample piston, never contacted me and after months of waiting, I called them. They acknowledged the loss of the sample and said if I would send them another piston they would make good on their error. I sent a drawing of my requirements taken from my other original piston. They made new pistons from the drawings and when the pistons arrived they did not match the drawings nor the original one. On top of that, they had the b***s to charge me for them. Needless to say, I have no use for them nor their products. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Last set of Packard pistons we ordered from the dealer under discussion 6 of the 8 wrist pins had visible cracks running the length of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustDave Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 try lester harris in menden Nevada,hes and old time parts dealerand sharp as a tack,he even had nos parts for my 31 devaux,talked to him sometime back about my 2 moon he knew what engine it had right ofrf the top of his head,great guy to deal with dave, ps you should be able to get his number online or send a message and ill look it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imnuts4fords@comcast.net Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 NAPA has engine interchange books. You can usually find a piston from another engine that will work. Sometimes you have to place a bushing in the wrist pin. I have some interchange books. I would need the exact diameter, distance the center of the pin is to the top of the piston, type of top (flat, domed, cupped), pin diameter, number and location of rings (above or below the pin). You would want to buy a complete set of pistons so they are all the same. Even buying a complete set of pistons is less expensive than a single custom built piston. PM me at imnuts4fords@comcast.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike36 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 10 hours ago, edinmass said: Ross or Aries are the ONLY way to go, and trust me, most of what is being sold today to collectors is JUNK from the far east. Buy a set of valves from any supplier and do a Rockwell hardness check on them, they will test out at less than half the factory valves. Now we just make all of our own valves from German blanks, and C&C them. It costs more, but no issues, worth every penny. PS: My two sets of Ross pistons arrived last week, and they are perfect. Sure is nice dealing with professionals, on time, on budget, no excuses. Currently when I spoke to them several weeks ago, Aries is backed up with work. CNC. Computer numeric control Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Sorry Mike, my spell check changed it and I didn’t notice.............Ed 11 hours ago, edinmass said: Ross or Aries are the ONLY way to go, and trust me, most of what is being sold today to collectors is JUNK from the far east. Buy a set of valves from any supplier and do a Rockwell hardness check on them, they will test out at less than half the factory valves. Now we just make all of our own valves from German blanks, and CNC them. It costs more, but no issues, worth every penny. PS: My two sets of Ross pistons arrived last week, and they are perfect. Sure is nice dealing with professionals, on time, on budget, no excuses. Currently when I spoke to them several weeks ago, Aries is backed up with work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Yes custom pistons are expensive. However piston (and ring) technology has changed a LOT in the last 20 or 25 years. Custom pistons are an opportunity to reduce the reciprocating mass, increase the compression a little (on super low compression engines), maybe get some squish/quench. and, if you specify it, modern piston rings. Modern rings are thinner, seal better, drag less, and control oil better too. Sometimes a weak piston pin retention mechanism can be replaced as well. The reduction in weight takes load off the bearings, and may even allow the engine to turn a little faster than before. All of this from a part that will be replaced anyway. It would be a priority for me if I needed to rebore. Food for thought. Anyway, that doesn't help the original poster, who wants ONE piston, and is presumably not going to bore the block. I remember a thread in these forums where a guy had a bunch of random NOS cast iron pistons he was trying to identify. I can't find it. Does anyone remember that? Edited February 8, 2018 by Bloo (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Ross is still a family owned business and the Ross family is very involved in restoring and collecting , and modifying but nobody is perfect. I know they are very fond of early Olds Rocket 88 engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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