47-59 New Pistons for 59 GMC 270?

[SanJosesSteve]

At 158K miles, my 59 GMC engine needed a refresh. Machinist tore it all down and found each piston ring had at least 1 broken ring and wants to replace all the pistons. No new pistons to be found though. Got an estimate from a well known SoCal piston manufacturer for a whopping $2,500 a set. 1st time having an engine rebuilt. Just want a sanity check..... Does this sound about right? All the places I used to buy minor GMC engine parts are seemingly gone. Machinist offered a Plan B to clean up and re-use the old ones, but its not his first choice.

Any ideas on where I might find some NOS pistons hiding out.....? Does $2,500 seen right....? The full rebuild up until this morning was about $6K. Now looking at $8.5K unless I find some unicorns on a shelf. Thanks, -Steve

[mr48chev]

I struck out with Egge https://egge.com/?year_id=35079&make...vpf-ymm-search

[geezer#99]

I checked Kanter and none there either.
Would it be possible to sleeve your block and bore it back to stock?

[Divine 59]

Well, buying a "rebuilt" engine is a gamble. If your engine is numbers matching maybe the cost you are looking could be justified. I did find this. Of course it has pistons that may or may not be useable. The entire engine may be okay. Even if it needs additional work you would have $7k of machine shop labor and parts to hit their bill.

https://www.2040-parts.com/270-gmc-l...2225-i1381588/

[mr48chev]

I couldn't even find stock bore pistons. I have a pm into a guy on the Hamb who races a car with a GMC inline six at Bonneville to see if he has any ideas.

[SanJosesSteve]

For years I resisted dropping in a new crate motor into my grandfathers truck as I wanted to keep it all original. I suppose I waited too long to tear apart this straight 6! At least I can still have a set made. I dread the dinner conversation with Mrs. SanJoseSteve when the bill comes though... Ha!

[mr48chev]

I got a response back from the gent I sent a message to last night. He knows of no one making cast pistons.

I'll copy and send you his PM to your message file as I didn't have permisison to post it on the board,

[1project2many]

I'm not sure how much interchange there is, but it looks like the CCKW Duece and a half used the GMC 270. This company claims to have pistons from standard to .040" oversize:
https://jeepest.com/gb/1230-engine-h...rt-cckw352-353 .

These folks also appear to have OS pistons.
https://www.lwdparts.com/?s=piston

HTH

[mr48chev]

That would be 286.97 in US dollars plus a serious shipping fee.

[mr48chev]

Thats not going to work out well in a street engine. Military rigs must have had a different head.

[Sammy4358]

I just saw stock pistons on Jim Carter (old chevy truck parts) web site.

[daveshilling]

for $2500, I'd wonder if you can find a lower mileage grain hauler and take your chances with buying the old engine and seeing if the pistons are any better...if you bought the right truck, you may be able to resell trim and parts and see plenty of $ back.

[BBPanel]

Have you been on this site?:
http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/

[BBPanel]

A post that you might want to check out:
https://oldgmctrucks.infopop.cc/eve/...383#4427042383

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by BBPanel

A post that you might want to check out:
https://oldgmctrucks.infopop.cc/eve/...383#4427042383

From this post:

Free blocks,cranks,heads oil pans,etc

All going for scrap..

5037406783

James