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400 Pistons
Pontiac V8 400 Pistons
Bore, Stroke and Compression — 400 Pistons for Pontiac V8s
400 Pistons decide the two numbers that matter most on a Pontiac 400 build: your finished bore and your compression ratio. A standard 4.120" bore refresh and a 4.500" stroke pump gas stroker both start here, and the piston you pick also sets your ring package, your pin size and how much compression height the rod and stroke leave you to work with.
Butler stocks Keith Black hypereutectic and Icon forged pistons from standard through .060" over, DSS 2618 forged pistons for 3.750" through 4.500" strokes, and Butler/Ross forged pistons on a Ross Pontiac forging made exclusively for Butler, including Quick Ship flat tops and dish tops CNC milled in house.
Browse 400 Pistons Products
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-18cc Dish Top
4.150" Bore / 4.250" Stroke
1.285" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6135-4150C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.150" Bore / 4.250" Stroke
1.285" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6130-4150C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-18cc Dish Top
4.160" Bore / 4.250" Stroke
1.285" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6135-4160C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.160" Bore / 4.250" Stroke
1.285" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6130-4160C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-18cc Dish Top
4.180" Bore / 4.250" Stroke
1.285" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6135-4180C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.180" Bore / 4.250" Stroke
1.285" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6130-4180C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-24cc Dish Top
4.150" Bore / 4.500" Stroke
1.16" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6157-4150C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.150" Bore / 4.500" Stroke
1.16" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6150-4150C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-24cc Dish Top
4.180" Bore / 4.500" Stroke
1.16" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6157-4180C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 1-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.180" Bore / 4.500" Stroke
1.16" Compression Height
0.99" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
4032 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K1-6150-4180C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,029.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.120" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4120
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.120" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4120
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.120" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6102-4120
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.125" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4125
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.125" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4125
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.150" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4150
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.150" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4150
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.160" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4160
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.160" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4160
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.180" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4180
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.180" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4180
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.120" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4120C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.120" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4120C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.125" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4125C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.125" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4125C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.150" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4150C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.150" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4150C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.160" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4160C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-7cc Flat Top
4.160" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6100-4160C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
Description: DSS 2-FX Series Forged Pistons — Set of 8
-14cc Dish Top
4.180" Bore / 3.750" Stroke
1.71" Compression Height
0.98" Pins Included
1.2 / 1.2 / 3.0mm DSS Ring Set Included
2618 forging...More Details »
Item #: DSS-K2-6104-4180C
Condition:
New
Ships in 7-10 Business Days
Price: $1,069.95
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More About 400 Pistons
1. Start with your finished bore
Every piston on this page is sold to a finished bore, not to a guess. Measure what the block actually is, or tell your machinist what you plan to order, before anything gets bought.
| Standard 4.120" | The stock Pontiac 400 bore. Keith Black and Icon both list a standard bore set, so a block that cleans up without an overbore does not force you into oversize pistons. |
| .030" over (4.150") | The most common rebuild size and the bore Butler stocks most heavily across Keith Black, Icon, DSS and Ross Quick Ship. |
| .040" over (4.160") and .060" over (4.180") | Available in the Keith Black and Icon families as complete sets of eight, plus DSS forged sets listed for 4.150", 4.160" and 4.180". |
| 4.155", 4.181" and 4.200" | Butler/Ross Quick Ship and custom Ross pistons cover the in-between and larger sizes that a sonic-tested block will support. |
2. Hypereutectic cast or forged
Both paths are legitimate on a 400. The question is what the engine is going to be asked to do.
| Keith Black hypereutectic | Hypereutectic 390 alloy with 16 percent silicon, diamond-machined skirt, spiral lock rings, press-fit or bushed wrist pins. Butler lists them in a -6cc flat top and a -17cc dish, both in .030", .040" and .060" over. They come with pin locks, so they work with bushed or press-fit rods. |
| Icon forged | Forged 2618 aluminum in a -4.5cc flat top and a -14cc D-shaped dish, sold as matched sets of eight in standard, .030", .040" and .060" over. Press-fit or floating on a .980" pin, 1/16", 1/16", 3/16" ring grooves. |
| DSS forged | 2618 alloy with the patented X Groove skirt, drilled forced pin oiling and deep CNC valve reliefs, offered in flat top and dish for 3.750", 4.000", 4.210", 4.250" and 4.500" strokes. |
| Butler/Ross forged | 2618-T61 on a Pontiac-specific forging Ross developed for Butler, in a strut-style design that runs tighter piston-to-wall clearance than a generic forging. |
3. Dish, flat top and the compression you can actually run
Butler's own guidance is worth repeating: no more than 9.5:1 on cast iron heads and no more than 10.5:1 on aluminum heads for pump gas. Pick the dish that gets you there with the chamber you already own.
| Flat tops | Icon's -4.5cc flat top lands near 10.9:1 with a 71cc chamber, 9.3:1 at 87cc and 8.6:1 at 96cc on a stock-stroke 400. That is the classic cast-iron-head combination when the chamber is large enough. |
| Dish tops | Icon's -14cc dish runs roughly 9.9:1 at 71cc, 8.6:1 at 87cc and 8.0:1 at 96cc. Keith Black's -17cc dish is the deepest stock-stroke dish Butler lists for a 400. |
| Butler-milled dishes | The Ross Quick Ship dish pistons arrive at Butler as a thick flat top and get finished on a five-axis CNC mill to a dish between -16cc and -42cc, so the compression ratio is cut to your chamber instead of the other way around. |
| Fully custom | Ross and DSS custom sets let you specify bore, stroke, dome, dish or flat top. Tell Butler the heads and the compression ratio you want and the piston gets designed to hit it. |
4. Compression height has to match the stroke and rod
This is where most 400 piston orders go wrong. Longer stroke means the piston has to get shorter, and the rod length has to be chosen at the same time.
| 3.750" stock stroke | DSS lists 1.710" compression height on a 6.625" rod; Icon lists 1.720" on a 6.630" rod with a .980" pin. |
| 4.000" stroke | 1.585" compression height, still on the 6.625" rod in the DSS listing. |
| 4.210" stroke | 1.480" compression height. |
| 4.250" stroke | 1.285" on a 6.800" rod with a .990" pin in the DSS listing, or 1.295" on the Butler/Ross Quick Ship pistons. |
| 4.500" stroke | 1.160" compression height. At this point the piston is short, the pin is high in the skirt and the rest of the combination needs to be built around it. |
5. Head style and valve angle
A 400 piston has to clear the valves in the heads you are running, and Butler's listings call out which heads each piston was cut for.
| 14 degree heads, 1967 and later | The Keith Black -6cc flat top is listed specifically for these. |
| 14 and 20 degree heads | The Keith Black -17cc dish covers both. |
| OE or Edelbrock style heads | Icon's note on both the flat top and the dish sets. DSS dish pistons for the 400 are listed as fitting late model and Edelbrock cylinder heads. |
| Dual valve pocket | Where a DSS piston is listed with a dual pocket, it is cut to clear both the early and the late valve angle, which matters if the heads are not decided yet. |
6. What comes with the piston and what you still need
| Rings | Some sets include a ring package and some do not. The Ross Quick Ship flat tops list pins and rings as not included; the dish versions include pins but not rings. Match the ring set to the finished bore, not to the nominal overbore. |
| Pins and locks | Icon and DSS sets include the pin. Keith Black pistons ship with pin locks so they can be run bushed or press-fit. |
| Rod clearance | Butler flags it on nearly every forged listing. Stock cast rods may need the small end narrowed and the balance pad removed to clear the inside of the pistons. |
| Early blocks and power adders | Ross builds an oil ring support version of the -8cc flat top specifically for early 400 blocks with deep notches, and for nitrous and boost applications where the oil ring groove needs the extra support. |
| Lead time | Custom pistons are not returnable, and a fully custom dish takes real time to produce. Quick Ship sets exist for exactly that reason. |
If you know your bore, your stroke, your rod length and your chamber volume, a Butler tech can put a 400 piston in front of you in one phone call. If you only know two of the four, call before you order, because the piston is the part that locks the other three in place.
Not sure what your Pontiac needs?
Call our tech team at 866-762-7527. Tell us your engine, heads, car, and power goal, and we will put the parts together as one combination that works.