Pistons and Cylinders 80mm

[Merv]

I have posted a request in WTB on this but I am looking for a set of new or very near so, 80mm pistons and cylinders for a US-delivered 2.0 litre (Normal) 1968. Mahle are seemingly NLA. I have seen the excellent ones made by LM Engineering, but wondered if there are any other suggestions?

Thanks

[silverc4s]

Merv,
It seems a lot of the early Mahle's have been made available again, albeit at elevated prices. You might check through your suppliers once again.
I wish you luck, there is nothing quite equal in the replacement world, IMO.

[Merv]

Thanks Bill. I did find one place with them, but a question in my mind is - are the LN Engineering Nickies and JE's actually better (at a lower price)?

http://lnengineering.com/products/ai...iston-set.html

[Merv]

Can 80 mm Biral cylinders still be obtained for the 2.0 L?

[silverc4s]

I think the durability of Mahle products is the benchmark, especially when you are comparing HP Pistons. They have the designs, alloys and the manufacturing techniques that result in high performance combined with long life.
The Nickies are wonderful and very high quality cylinders, and JE makes very high quality, high performance piston sets, but that is two separate entities we are looking at, vs one combined development/manufacturing effort.

[Flieger]

I believe Charles designed the Nickies to work with the JE alloy though.

[304065]

Merv, if you are going concours you can find a used set of birals and bore them to 81 and use custom JE, that's what I did.

If you are going non-cours you should buy a set of Nickes in 87.5mm that are a slip fit into the 2,0 spigots with custom JEs! 2,381cc without cutting the factory case with better heat rejection from the aluminum alloy. Of course you will need 2,2 heads or machine the 2,0. Call Charles, he will fix you up.

[Merv]

I CAN get Biral and JE at a very good price, but only at 82.5mm for the 2.0L case. Just checking what mods would be needed to the case and otherwise? I haven't seen any used Birals around.

Not keen to change the standard heads at this stage as they seem OK with usual re-furb to guides, etc..

Otherwise it is the LN set I suspect.

[kenikh]

On a pure performance basis, I prefer the LN solution. Those Nickies cylinders are amazing.

[Merv]

Pushed the button this morning ....