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Thread: Pistons for a 230 Tornado?

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  1. #1

    Default Pistons for a 230 Tornado?

    Hey guys..... Jeep guy here, working on a '65 Gladiator J200 pickup with a 230. I'm trying not to pitch this whole engine in the garbage, but I can't find a friggen set of pistons anywhere!

    I need a full set, looking for a source of any kind that's not custom.
    My block is standard bore, but worn, so it will need to be rebored, but I don't know the definite size yet.

    I've tried:
    Kanter Auto - nope
    Walack's 4wd - nope
    Willy's Works - nope
    Willy's America - nope
    Kaiser Willys - nope
    Vintage Power Wagon - nope
    Memphis Equip - 1 set of standard bore
    Surplus City - nope
    Midwest Military - nope
    Peter DeBella - nope
    Rudy Phillips - nope
    Border Parts CA - nope

    Egge Machine - Custom made $1400/set, w/out rings.
    eBay - hit or miss. Mostly miss in my case.


    I live in SW Montana, so machine shops are few and far between. So far, resleeving a block will cost me $7-900, which is just a touch cheaper than custom pistons.
    Any other ideas that I'm missing?
    Thanks in advance!!!

  2. #2

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    You listed everything and more. I instantly thought of Kanter. Well never mind there... So I had a set of pistons made for an older 4 cyl mercruiser boat motor. The engine builder said they were not much more than over the counter pistons. He had trouble finding only 4 pistons and no parts places would break up a set of 8. So he had them made out of California.
    M and S engine in Ponderay ID. Greg is his name. He has built a couple engines for me and some other machine work. He is slow but meticulous. The engines he did for me all run like a sewing machine.

    You are left with sleeving and STD bore pistons, waiting for ebay to have oversize pistons pop up, or like some would suggest, repower....
    I would keep looking and try to be patient. You never know.

  3. #3

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    Wow, That's discouraging

    I thought that Willys America or Kanter would at least have some.
    They were my "go to" source of quality parts, when I was rebuilding my Tornado 230.

  4. #4

    Default

    I'm planning on exhausting all reasonable options before resorting to an engine swap. For better or worse, the difficulty of getting parts is strengthening my resolve to get this thing running and back on the road simply because it seems like it won't be getting any easier to do it.

    Kanter made it sound like they had a production run of pistons made in China and were simply at the end of their stock, but made no indication that they would be ordering more. But they're at least set up for it.

    For the purpose and condition of my truck, I won't likely be ordering custom pistons of any kind, if anything I'd sleeve and re-bore it back to standard, but even that's going to cost me $1k to do. Before I go that far, I'd probably just hone the block I have, take down the ring ridge, throw some new rings in my standard pistons and accept that I'm going to have some blow-by.

    If nothing else, hopefully this will provide some info for others moving forward and running into the same issues I have.

  5. #5

    Default

    At this point if it were mine, I would do a minimal hone and rering it. Then run a high zinc oil like Valvoline VR-1. All older engines should have high zinc oil. The claims of new oils being backwards compatible is BS. If it were true then I would not be continually finding flat cams in the motors I am opening up. And in trying to keep up a questionable reputation, I must make a statement on fram filters and how you would be better off tossing a handful of sand in your motor.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Eastern Maine
    Posts
    377

    Default

    Does not say what size but does say newly made.
    http://www.performancenowdirect.com/...waAtBLEALw_wcB

    I would also message this ebay seller, they have a lot of parts for 230.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-JEEP-KA...YAAOSwl9BWHPoS

  7. #7

    Default

    Here goes. This is an old method for wornout blocks. Have it bored out and new Sleves installed. Good experienced machine shop should be able to do it. I would shoot for one that has been in business for a while. You can go right back to Orginal Bore and use your orginal pistons. You need to check closely the ring grove wear. Put the new ring on the piston and use a feeler gauge to check. Old "Motor" repair manuals had the procedure in them. Normally not a problem but one of those things to check. Beats pulling and tearing the engine down.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pa
    Posts
    15

    Default

    If Dan is unable to find his, PM me. I currently in the process of having an engine rebuilt and came across a couple local motors. I'm not an expert, but they seem in pretty good shape. Paul

  9. #9

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by PGH715 View Post
    If Dan is unable to find his, PM me. I currently in the process of having an engine rebuilt and came across a couple local motors. I'm not an expert, but they seem in pretty good shape. Paul
    That's great news Paul.
    Because I haven't found those things anywhere

  10. #10

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