K Appley Posted June 2, 2016 Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 For some time I have been trying to source factory pistons for my A15 engine. It originally came out of a front drive 310 and is fitted with half flat top and half dished pistons. Nissan in this country has not been able to come up with them but in a conversation with gxrb in Japan I find that for the domestic market the part numbers I have been using are different. Anyone here fluent in Japonese??? Anyone know if I can source these pistons with the correct JDM part number from my local Nissan dealer?? gxrb gave me two sets of numbers for standard and oversize pistons so now I have to determine which piston is the one I'm looking for. I know there are aftermarket pistons but the original gave me just the squish I want against the protrusion on my H89 head. This engine is great just the way it is but since I couldn't find oversize factory pistons when i rebuilt it, I chinced out and only reringed it. I think I may have a broken ring and blow by has increased. Any insight greatly appreciated Kurt. Quote Link to comment
Morrisun Posted June 2, 2016 Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 Rock auto: ITM ENGINE COMPONENTS RY6119 Sold individually C.R. 8.5:1-76mm; Replacement Style Replace in Sets only .020, .030 & .040 oversize: part flat top- part dish Listed under 1981 Nissan 310, 1.5l for just under $27.00 a piston! They even have pictures..Yah! 2 Quote Link to comment
K Appley Posted June 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 Thanks, Morrisun. I'm familiar with them but the factory offering was superior. If I have to those will be my choice. Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted June 2, 2016 Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 OEM pistons are not measurably better than most good aftermarket brands. Unless you're building a high RPM turbo motor, good aftermarket cast pistons should be fine. It's the ring pack you should be concerned about. The wrong choice there will lead to premature failure or wear. If buying pistons, don't buy individually as sets are usually packaged in balanced sets. But you should still have them weighed and balanced prior to mating them up with the rods. 1 Quote Link to comment
K Appley Posted June 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2016 Well, in this case the dish area on the factory pistons appears to be superior to the ITM's. What really gets me is that these engines were being fitted to new vehicles in several country's around the world as short a time ago as about 10 years. The same is true of the 60 series transmission but in this country Nissan has just figured that stocking parts isn't necessary. You can bet that if I were in Indonesia or South Africa, a couple of countries that I believe they were last fitted, that I could get parts. As to the quality of the factory pistons, there are lots of very high mileage A series engines with the factory piston's in them so I think they are fine. The ITM's appear to be made by just facing off a lump and running a cutter offset to one side to make the dish. They may be weighted closely but I'll bet they are on the heavy side. Kurt. 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted June 3, 2016 Report Share Posted June 3, 2016 Well, in this case the dish area on the factory pistons appears to be superior to the ITM's. You can bet that if I were in Indonesia or South Africa, a couple of countries that I believe they were last fitted, that I could get parts. The ITM's appear to be made by just facing off a lump and running a cutter offset to one side to make the dish. They may be weighted closely but I'll bet they are on the heavy side. The factory and aftermarket pistons are likely machined from similar castings and both have machined domes. The OEM pistons may have a coating on top, but this is largely superficial. I have gone through the UK to buy OEM Toyota parts that are not available in the USA. Maybe you could try the UK for Nissan parts. Have you tried Nissan North America? Balancing any set of pistons is always a good idea. I really think you're splitting hairs by wanting to purchase OEM. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lockleaf Posted June 3, 2016 Report Share Posted June 3, 2016 Aren't A series super common in south Africa? Maybe try there? Quote Link to comment
K Appley Posted June 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2016 Well, I suppose I will give in to ITM's in the long run. I still can't believe that the factory pistons are not available in this country though. Unless you know someone personally in SA its pretty hard to deal in that country. Kinda close to a failed state without a lot of honesty. There are a lot of A series there. If memory serves the factory pistons are faced on top with a cast dish. Kurt Quote Link to comment
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