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Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 19 Oct 2017 19:22
by Michael
Cedric, the determining factor for a silvertop is not whether it has a vacuum pump on the alternator or not or if it has a silver tappet cover or not but I think it was more a "hint" whether it may be a silvertop or not. The deteraming factor can only be the pistons as this is the only major difference between a turbo and non turbo engine.
As far as I know most (not all of them) GQ TD42's came out with a vacuum pump on the alternator and most are not silvertops. Only in the GU shape did they change to the vacuum pump on the

So yes one and only difference is the pistons. The crank, conrods, block, piston coolers are no different to any other NA TD42.
On the TI motor the conrods are a bit stronger and obviously the pistons are completely different, the piston coolers are a bit longer and actually push right into the cooling ports in the piston head and the off course the crank is thicker at the back where the flywheel bolts onto it.
So the silvertop gained its popularity because its the only NA engine you can safely turbo without frying the pistons and it now makes sense to me after having stripped both and comparing the parts.

I can guarantee you that Tommie's engine is a silvertop as the pistons are EXACTLY the same as the other silvertop I have here. The posability is off course always there that the timing cover was changed at some point to accommodate the vacuum pump under the diesel pump to be able to run an normal alternator. The car now has over 500,000km on so anything is possable.

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 20 Oct 2017 07:07
by offroadbiker
So..... if you now re-build an engine what is it that you are going to fit to ensure it is the best/strongest?

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 20 Oct 2017 08:16
by Rudolph
Here is pictures of the pistons that I took out of my TD42. Looks the same as the piston second from right on Michael's post.

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 20 Oct 2017 11:37
by Michael
offroadbiker wrote:So..... if you now re-build an engine what is it that you are going to fit to ensure it is the best/strongest?
I fit the pistons on the right hand. These are the strongest pistons available and have the cooling ports in the piston head to ensure the piston does not over heat.
The pistons second from left I also use as they are also turbo pistons with alfin incerts, but obviously first prize are the ones on the right

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 20 Oct 2017 12:21
by Michael
Rudolph, ja daai kyk net soos die silvertop pistons wat ek hier het

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 20 Oct 2017 12:34
by Tinus lotz
Michael wrote:
offroadbiker wrote:So..... if you now re-build an engine what is it that you are going to fit to ensure it is the best/strongest?
I fit the pistons on the right hand. These are the strongest pistons available and have the cooling ports in the piston head to ensure the piston does not over heat.
The pistons second from left I also use as they are also turbo pistons with alfin incerts, but obviously first prize are the ones on the right
En die conrods .moet 30 toe gaan want mens kry nie reg 28mm td42 pistons nie

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 20 Oct 2017 20:20
by TommieGQ
Baie interessant Micheal dankie vir die goeie inligting. Sien rerig uit na die GQ.

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 20 Oct 2017 21:07
by Michael
Jy gaan hom verseker geniet :biggrin:

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 25 Oct 2017 18:08
by Michael
Did some more measuring today and the silvertop piston as well as the TD42TI pistons have 15,5mm thick piston heads where the NA pistons only sport 10mm piston heads

Re: Td42 Silvertop engines

Posted: 22 May 2018 22:26
by WannabeTroll
I'm new to the debate and following along keenly.

Just laughing to myself though when looking at Michael's photo comparing the pistons. It's obvious what the difference is between the silver and black tops. It's the pistons. Black tops are old pistons and silver tops are new pistons.

So if you add a turbo you need to add silver top pistons ... upgraded pistons :mytwocents: lol