New high-compression domed pistons for Trick Flow Twisted Wedge cylinder heads for the Ford Windsor

Diamond Pistons is launching a new domed series of pistons designed to complement the Trick Flow Twisted Wedge cylinder head as applied to higher compression Windsor 5.0 and 351 (5.7 liter) 90-degree small-block Ford engines.

The advantages of Trick Flow’s Twisted Wedge cylinder heads are significant. Rotating the valve arrangement (in clock rotation within the combustion chamber)—in contrast with the conventional inline configuration—allowed Trick Flow to increase the diameter of the inlet valve from 1.900 inches to 2.020 inches. Further, the air flow was improved by reconfiguring the inlet ports and all of this without requiring a change of pistons. Of course, if one has the desire to upgrade the pistons, such as these new high-compression types, then more advantages can be realized.

Forged from 2618 alloy, these pistons are developed for the week-end warriors and budget bracket racers, seeking higher compression ratios in either naturally aspirated engines or with nitrous oxide. They use a conventional ring stack (1/16 top, 1/16 second, and 3/16 oil). For naturally aspirated engines, the Total Seal Plasma Moly top ring is recommended. To combat the higher temperatures and cylinder pressures of nitrous injection, Diamond specifies Total Seal’s AP (Advanced Profile) stainless top ring that features a chrome nitride anti-friction face coating.

The top ring is positioned sufficiently far down from the piston crown to protect it from excessive heat—this also allows for a generous thickness of material over the crown. As a result, these domed pistons can safely accommodate a 150-200 horsepower shot of nitrous oxide. Between the first and second rings, Diamond incorporates a pressure balance groove. This thin, V-shaped area becomes a reservoir that dissipates unwanted pressure between the rings, thus preventing it from unloading the ring, breaching the ring seal, and losing power.

Normally, the pistons are supplied with 4130 wrist pins and spiral locks. However, an upgraded H13 Tool Steel option is also available. Concurrently, the piston features double oiling ports in each wrist pin bore that are force-fed from the oil control ring groove. On long stroke models, where the wrist pin intersects the oil control ring groove, oil ring support rails are supplied.

Now available as shelf-stock items, these pistons are made to suit a 3.400-inch stroke with a 5.400-inch connecting rod, the most common connecting rod size or stroker combination in the aftermarket.  For comparison, the 5.0 (302 CID) OE stroke is 3.00-inches with a 5.090-inch connecting rod. Bore over-sizes for the 302 and 351 are as follows: 0.030, 0.035, 0.040, and 0.060-inch.  A further oversize of 0.125-inch is available for the 302 engine.

For further information contact Diamond Pistons at www.DiamondRacing.net.

Consistency With Quick Fuel's E85 Checker

E85 offers many benefits to performance enthusiasts and racers with its 105-octane rating, cooler engine temperatures and cleaner emissions. The variations from pump-to-pump for street driving are negligible, but to the racer, even a small percentage change of ethanol can determine the outcome of a race if nothing is done to compensate. Consistency is especially important for bracket racers where a win can be determined by thousandths of a second.

E85 fuel is said to contain 85-percent ethanol and 15-percent gasoline, but the fuel mixture can vary anywhere from a low of 70-percent all the way up to 85-percent ethanol depending on place of refinement and season of purchase. Quick Fuel Technology's E-Checker will let you know exactly what you are pouring into your tank.

The QFT E-Checker can help the racer calibrate their air/fuel mixture. Using the E-Checker takes only a few moments and is simple to use. First you add water to the first line on the E-Checker and then pour in the E85 sample to the second line. The ethanol absorbs the water and the gasoline floats on top revealing a definitive boundary. This boundary will lie in the area of the E-Checker that is graduated giving you the percentage of ethanol in the E85 fuel. The glass E-Checker comes with its own durable carrying case to keep it safe in any toolbox.

For more information, contact the fuel delivery experts at: Quick Fuel Technology, 129 Dishman Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42101. Phone (270) 793-0900. Fax (270) 793-0951. Visit QFT on the web at www.quickfueltechnology.com, or e-mail quickfuel@earthlink.net.