You should take them to a machine shop and have the pins pressed in before you have the car worked on.

A lot of "performance" shops will try and press them in with hydraulics and dick up the piston. Or, they'll overheat the rod/piston before inserting the pins and you'll have a weaker metal with low structural integrity. Thus, negating the purchase.

As I mentioned before, installation isn't a difficult process for most of the local shops, but don't let them assemble the rod/pistons on their own. Get it done right.

 

Not necessarily. It depends on how the piston was manufactured and how the metal was treated during manufacturing. If they are forged (hot worked), it would be very hard to weaken the metal with heat. If they are cold worked, you may lose a little strength, but the pistons would have to get VERY hot in order for that to happen.

 

You're right, but I should have been more clear. What I meant was direct heat applied... some shops try and use a blow torch and shimmy the parts together. The heat isn't uniform and the first sign is discoloration.

 

Shawn @ 1552 is top notch, i know him personally and seen alot of his work and let me tell you, BAD ASS!!! he just finished a turbo kit for an M coupe, and that is flawless!!!!
you can also try Andrew@Lutz Performance.

 

im just gonna take it to 1552 i can use this as an excuse to stay down in sarasota for several days and get some good fishing and drinking in. ill drive down and have my girl bring the boat down.