I spoke with Joe Grubbs last night about the internal parts of the N9T.
I think I was mistaken with some of my information, as a couple of you
suggested. Joe said that he was told the main bearings were under these
long caps that stretched across the bottom of the block, but says he's
skeptical of that being the truth, since, in the shop manual, it appears
to have just plain two bold main bearing caps. About the pistons he said
he can't remember; I remember being told some time ago, by either Joe or
my brother, that they were forged. So the pistons may also be in
question. What was the price on those from Peugeot again? $290? For a
cast piston? I know they're some tough pistons, and tougher rings. I've
seen N9T pistons where they've melted and the metal has run down over
the rings without damaging them. I know the N9T has a forged crank and
connecting rods.
-Alan