Apex Pistons HP/boost limit?

[Iceman56]

As the title says what is too much for the stock Apex pistons? I've heard the Apex pistons are pretty stong and the rods are the weak point. Say if a guy wanted to do a bit of a budget build and just throw some Carrilos in and keep the stock pistons how much HP or boost could a guy run safely with good tunning from Impulse's complete standalone.

Let me hear what you have pushed yours to or what you have seen.

Thanks
Mike

 

[gunnerthesnowman]

As the title says what is too much for the stock Apex pistons? I've heard the Apex pistons are pretty stong and the rods are the weak point. Say if a guy wanted to do a bit of a budget build and just throw some Carrilos in and keep the stock pistons how much HP or boost could a guy run safely with good tunning from Impulse's complete standalone.

Let me hear what you have pushed yours to or what you have seen.

Thanks
Mike

Stock piston , no head shim , 25lbs

 

[Iceman56]

As the title says what is too much for the stock Apex pistons? I've heard the Apex pistons are pretty stong and the rods are the weak point. Say if a guy wanted to do a bit of a budget build and just throw some Carrilos in and keep the stock pistons how much HP or boost could a guy run safely with good tunning from Impulse's complete standalone.

Let me hear what you have pushed yours to or what you have seen.

Thanks
Mike

Stock piston , no head shim , 25lbs

Wow that is impressive... What elevation/fuel is that? Do you run it at that boost regularely or is that just a few times? I am curious what I could run on a regular basis at 9-11,000' safely.

Thanks

 

[Iceman56]

No one else?? Anyone still alive on here

Will they handle 350+hp? What is the next weakest link block, headstuds?

 

[HURRICANE]

It has been our experience that the pistons are strong enough to make what ever hp that the boost system is capable of.The issue is the head gasket.The reason that we use JE pistons is so that we don't need to use the head ship.The stock head gasket alone is stronger.Head studs are a must for boosted engine.The block becomes an issue after about 350hp.Depending on the tune and the fuel used.

 

[Iceman56]

It has been our experience that the pistons are strong enough to make what ever hp that the boost system is capable of.The issue is the head gasket.The reason that we use JE pistons is so that we don't need to use the head ship.The stock head gasket alone is stronger.Head studs are a must for boosted engine.The block becomes an issue after about 350hp.Depending on the tune and the fuel used.

Thank you Dave... Are you against using CP pistons in a build? I don't like how much heavier the JE pistons are compared to stock and CP's are even lighter yet. I want this motor to be as responsive as I can get it since I came from a Nytro motor and it's gonna be a mountain sled. If I get it done it will have your head and cam work done as well.

 

[HURRICANE]

Well,I don't have experience using CP pistons.We have used Wisco back in the day and had issues with them .The JE pistons have been reliable though.With the head porting and setting the cam timing,the apex engine will certainly wake up at clutch engagment