Finding or forging 1470 cc Pistons

[Luciano1985]

Pistons are out and not that bad
Rods are stuck inside

[jbcollier]

Soak everything in diesel fuel for a week or so.

[edgefinder]

If the pistons can be saved you can make new sleeves to fit them at less expense

[Luciano1985]

Wouldnt new standard liners fit?

[jbcollier]

Lots of info here:

http://www.syer.net/donor_cars.htm

Most 1470/1565 liners will have an 82.5mm spigot diameter.  Very early engines may be 82mm.  The block can be machined to take the larger spigot.

Not also the different compression height between 1470 and 1565 pistons.

[Luciano1985]

I actually have that saved in my phone
But as my understanding of mechanics are zero it looks like cifer lol
So the basic Renault 697 liners wont fit without modifying the block
I noticed he says he is not sure about the 697-04  witch is my engine
Where exacly should the old ones be meassured
I have found both of the versions available ,82.5 mm and 82.00!.
If mine are 82.5 I actually have a chance if buying a full set of pistons(renault flat) rings and liners for the same price as 4 liners alone!

[jbcollier]

No, what he is saying is that certain early engines had a slightly smaller spigot size.  They are rare and only a factor in the first few production 697 engines.

[314159td]

Hello, bumping an old thread but it's pretty inline with my question.

I'm unsure if my 1470 S1 engine has the correct pistons, as I haven't seen many pictures online differentiating the so-called high and low compression pistons the Renault 697 engines apparently came with. I'm used to high compression pistons having some extra material added on top in a pattern to clear the valves, plug, etc but I know they can also just be a normal, flat top that's higher than standard.

My engine is tagged as a 697-4 and the # (600) matches the VIN plate stamp. My pistons seem to have just a flat top, and there's some text and numbers on top that I can't figure out a meaning to. 76 is presumably the 76mm nominal bore, as expected. I don't see a reason for the pistons to have been replaced, two of them have a lot of small surface dents from debris and are due for replacement if anything.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out if this set is correct for my Europa engine: https://www.renault16shop.com/Piston-and-liner-set-Lotus-Europe,-diameter-82,50,-76-mm
Those pistons seem to have a raised section, and I don't want to doubly-add compression, if that's a thing (stroker crank? thinner block on the early Renault engines?)

Any info you have floating around is much appreciated!

[jbcollier]

The pistons shown from R16 shop site have the correct raised piston crowns but they are marked 76.95.  It may just be a generic photo though.

[314159td]

correct raised piston crowns

In that case, my flat-top pistons would be low compression standard R16 pistons?

I know some stories about lower compression engines being sent to the US market (by lotus and others) for various reasons, or somebody may have just replaced these pistons at some point with what they could find. After all, this thing has a S2 front end 

[Richard48Y]

Have you checked with Wossner?
They made my forged 1595cc pistons and do custom orders.
Not cheap but maybe not so much as USA made and import duty?

I have found several times that the best way out is to just contact Salv Sacco.
He does a lot of rebuilds and may have what you need.

[jbcollier]

Richard48Y had crossflow pistons made up.

Flat top pistons are definitely lower compression than the originals.  People have had custom replacements made up but I would just buy the 1470 piston/liner sets from RD, R16Shop, or Lotus Supplies.

[Richard48Y]

I missed the time-warp and change of poster's.
But Salv does do more then just Cross-Flow engines so may still have the needed parts.

[jbcollier]

Salv is Mr Renault.  Can’t recommend him high enough.