Ean --
The low compression Spit 1500 pistons have a dish carved out of the
top; the high compression ones have flat tops.
I'm not sure how you could differentiate without taking the head off.
You could perform a compression check I guess, and see if it's in the
range for 9:1. That is, if you can crank the motor over.
BTW, doing a head gasket job on a Spit 1500 is easy -- no need to
rebuild the motor, unless damage has resulted.
Dan
>Unfortunately, my head gasket went south between cylinders 3&4, so I'm
>looking either rebuilding my motor or buying another...Since I also plan
>on autoxing it this year, I thought this would be an opportune time to
>put in the 9:1 pistons and do a few other tweaks to compete in Street
>Prepared rather than Stock.
>
>So, can anyone tell me how to visually tell if a piston is from a 9:1 vs
>from another year 1500? I'm contemplating buying a rebuilt 1500 block
>from a guy, but he doesn't know which pistons were installed.
>
>thanks!
>Ean
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Dan Buettner - Des Moines, Iowa - mailto:danb@thelittlemacshop.com
1977 Spitfire, FM64159U, now with an O too. Runs & drives, but shakes
like crazy; needs new tires and a steering/suspension rebuild.
http://home.earthlink.net/~nickndan/gmachine/greenmachine.html
1957 TR3, TS15098L. Needs an O. Undergoing frame-off restoration begun 9/99.
http://home.earthlink.net/~nickndan/TR3/TR3.html
1988 Honda Civic 4WD Wagon. Gets me to work and back home again every day.
No home page. (go figure)
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