JE/SRP FAQ:

2. Why do I have an extra set of spiro locks?

You Don't! JE/SRP supplies double spiral locks with most of the shelf part pistons. This means you must install two locks per side for a total of four per piston. One exception would be a round wire lock.


http://www.jepistons.com/faqs.asp

I put the motor together about 3 months ago. A friend of mine sent me this link tonight, because he happened across it and knew those were the same pistons I had used.

So yeah, I only used one spyrolock per side because I was unaware of this when I built the motor. What happens now? The motor has been together for about 1000 miles now, and running fine.

Ya know... it doesnt say that ANYWHERE in the SRP directions that they sent out with the piston/pin/lock kit. NOWHERE. I know, cuz i just went back through them all and looked. Funny thing was, when i checked the piston/pin clearance, it was far too big, but everyone said not to worry, that i was being too ****. Well now I find out I was supposed to use two per side, when I only used one.

So, is my motor gonna grenade? At this point in time I have NO WAY of fixing the motor.

 

leftover parts are not good...I think I would turn the car off before things get REAL expensive....

 

i'd call their tech people and ask. if i didn't get an answer i'd be thinking about taking it apart and fixing the problem. the locks have a burr or sharp edge where they are punched or however they're made, on one side and the other is flat. you match the two flat sides together in the center and put the sharp edge facing inward and the other outward.

 

You mean you checked the wrist pin end clearance, right? i.e. how much the wrist pin can slide side to side. With spiro-licks on a newly assembled combo that gap should be essentially zero. With snap rings it should have some clearance.

I feel your pain about not having directions about installing the locks on your expensive pistons- my KB's came with spiro locks but not a blessed word about installing them or checking clearances.

This is one of the multiple reasons I don't use spiro-locks. They might hold the pin in place but everything else about them sucks.

 

I called and talked to the JE tech people today. The guy said basically without the double snap-rings, the pin could pop the ring out and start wearing through the cylinder wall. He said if this hadn't already started to happen on my motor, that it would for sure in the next 1000 miles.
I asked him WHY, if this was so essential, they say NOTHING about it in their instructions. He just said, yeah, he got several calls about the 'extra' locks every day, and that they would probably change the instructions to include something about the locks at some point. Gee that helps me soo much now.

 

Unbelievable, I'm really sorry that happened to you man. Good luck

 

Feeling your pain:

I just got a 406 together into my 71 camaro.

It smokes and consumes oil at the rate of a quart every 50 miles.

after lots of phone calls, including one to Total Seal (folks who make my gapless rings)... They tell me I need a 280 grit hone on the cylinder walls otherwise their rings won't ever break in. they say it's normal and expected for a motor to smoke and burn a quart every 50-60 miles with a 400 grit hone and their rings. Guess what, I have a 400 grit hone - the standard hone for a SBC. Now why didn't they say anything in the instructions/directions?

Gotta pull the whole motor apart just to rehone the bores.........

 

Each piston will have 4 spiro locks..... 2 on each side...

Some spiro locks are 1 piece ie: 1 on each side...

My JE / SRP 's had 4 per piston.

 

the KB/silvolite hypereutetics in my 71's 406 had two spiral locks per piston.

 

man that sux I am glad I went with the pressed pins in the 400