Decision time - set of new AAZ pistons and rings

[Gizmoman]

1.9 AAZ rebuild - one size over pistons and rings. It's time to get these here so I can get the block bored.

I'm about to pull the trigger on four new pistons and rings - .5 mm oversize.
Here are the two choices:
1. http://www.partsplaceinc.com/products/product-detail.aspx?keyword=VW+Turbo+Diesel+oversize+piston+set+28-198-81&s=88&&sku=20614
OR
2. http://www.hansautoparts.com/19AAZPistons5mm.aspx
If I go with choice #2, I need to buy some quality rings as well. So far I haven't been able to find . 5 mm oversize Gotze.

Please, this is not a request to start bashing Proth - I'd simply like to know what "you" would choose and why.

Also, if anyone has a link to purchase the oversize Gotze rings, I'd appreciate it. I can find them at Autohaus but they are listed as "TDI" rings - don't know if there's a difference.

[RustyCaddy]

These are on the boards FS:

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=32319.0

not mine or anyone i know

[libbydiesel]

The ones at pPartsPlace don't say they are VW.  Smart money says they're Arco anyway...

[Gizmoman]

Thanks for the heads up on the ones from CrazyAndy - he's a veteran member on this board so that's a good start.
I just PM'd him to ask if they are from Hans Diesel as the price and looks suggest they are. Not that that's a bad thing necessarily - just want to know.
I have heard the Hans pistons are OK but also that the pins are thinner and maybe not as tight as they should be in a new piston (slide right out).

[Gizmoman]

Smart money says they're Arco anyway...

Is Arco good or not so good?

[libbydiesel]

Arco are the pistons that prothe/hansdiesel sells. 

[burn_your_money]

Prothe's rings are also junk (from what I've read)

[Gizmoman]

Andrew and I are setting up the deal - he's put excellent rings on 'em and I hope to use my pins as I've heard Proth's are thin. Hopefully mine will fir nice and snug.

I spent hours reading all the Prothe perspectives and it's not hard to find all over the forums.

This isn't an IP, timing belt or a head and I simply can't seem to find quality pistons in the .50 mm OS. Even when I did find stock ones, they were crazy expensive and I'd need to pay VAT on top of that.

[libbydiesel]

Andrew and I are setting up the deal - he's put excellent rings on 'em and I hope to use my pins as I've heard Proth's are thin.

Just to be clear, when you say Andrew you mean CrazyAndyMike.

[Gizmoman]

Correct, CrazyAndyMike.

[Gizmoman]

Ok, Just got a reply from an Ebay listing for a set of "original" VW pistons and rings.
I made an offer (several days ago)of 500 and they responded with 600 (dropped 50 bucks off)
Here's the link http://www.ebay.com/itm/360496744908?item=360496744908&autorefresh=true.

I'm going to stick with CrazyAndy's listing. Not only because I already told him I would, but I think the good rings he's got on them, not to mention the price, is the best way to go.

BTW, I appreciate folks correcting me when I make mistakes but I am referring to the seller as "CrazyAndy" because that's the name he has listed on the post in the for sale section.

If I'm missing something, please continue to correct me.

[theman53]

Its fine to call him crazy andy, but some were saying andrew, so it was confusing. I just edited it for fun as he is also CrazyMike

[RockOcean]

Just a reminder that using prothe pistons could put your piston protrusion in the 1 notch "hard to find" head gasket range or lower as it did for me. So I suggest following the wise words of LibbyDiesel if you have not thought about this already:

The reason your piston protrusion is too small is probably because oversize pistons typically move the wristpin bore closer to the crown in anticipation of having the deck resurfaced at the same time as boring.  If you don't have the deck surface milled the same distance that the pin is moved to the crown, the protrusion will change.  I would pull the rotating assembly and return the block to the machine shop telling them how much to mill off the deck to have the protrusion solidly land right in the middle of the range for the 2-notch gasket. 

As an aside, to avoid that predicament when I am rebuilding an engine, I measure the protrusion of the old pistons first.  Then I pull the assembly and measure the wrist pin to crown height of the old pistons.  I then measure the wrist pin to crown height of the new pistons and do the math necessary to tell the machinist how much to trim the deck while I am having them bore the cylinders.  That saves considerable time (and possibly TTY fasteners) and results in the protrusion I want.

[Gizmoman]

Great advice - thanks!

I didn't measure the deck height before I removed the old ones - should I reinstall and measure as a point of reference (gasket was 3 notch)?

What are your thoughts on the ebay pistons VS the Arcos?
I've got so much invested at this point, I'm feeling a bit queasy about putting the Arcos in.
I will buy them cause I already said I would but I can always re-sell em if I have to

Your perspective would be appreciated.

[RockOcean]

No worries - I am pretty new to the AAZ motor game so I don't have that much experience, but I guess more so then others since I was forced to rebuild my motor away from home. I would say that you got a really good deal from CrazyAndy, he actually helped me out a lot buy selling me the much needed valve cover for a great price. I bought my pistons directly from Prothe or Hans Auto and wanted to run GOETZE rings but could not find them anywhere in the US. I ended up going with Grant Rings which my brother was able to obtain.  I gotta run to work, but good luck with your rebuild :- )