Piston Question

[Tom]

I have seen several pistons with up to six little holes drilled in the top lip on each side, I can tell someone did these by hand because there at different angles and are not spaced the same, and some pistons ive seen do not have these little holes at the top at all on either side. Was this for better lubrication or to show these pistons are no good etc?

Tom

Richard this maybe something you can answer since you worked with Russ Brownell on several occasions because ive seen these pistons in his sons Tucker parts left over from Russ. Also do you know what engines he rebuilt?

[plancor 792]

This is one question I don't have a complete answer for. Although I have worked on many engines and replaced a few pistons I never really thought about the way they were made. I do know that some pistons have holes drilled into the side usually below the top ring and many have groves in the 3rd. ring that are used for oil control. No idea why holes were drilled in the top of the piston. No idea as to what engine they may have come out of being in Russ Brownell's garage. It could have been any thing from a motorcycle or a Tucker or his ultra lite. Best I could determine is they may have been oil control. Now, due to aircraft engines pumping lots of oil into the cylinders you see the burst of smoke when they start up, this same situation was with the Tucker. Bill Hamlin told me about closing some of the oil passages when overhauling the engine. When started with this modification the engine would not put out a puff of smoke. His 1014 was a good example of this modification. he also modified the engines in 1009, 1017, 1037 and others. To see if this modification has been done to a Tucker you may have the opportunity to see when it starts up just stand behind the exhaust and I can assure you, you will then know. While this doesn't totally answer your question, it is the best I can do.
Richard

[Tom]

Thank you Richard!!

Tom

[Ganaraska]

I have heard of people doing this. The idea is to let pressure from the combustion chamber down behind the top ring, pushing it tight to the cylinder for improved sealing.

Don't know if it works or not. I think it was one of those ideas that was going around in 60's hot rod and racing circles.