Cryogenic Freeze My 260?

[bigcoupee]

I've read some pretty substantial claims about the increase in life of high wear metal parts after they are put through a cryogen freezing process. Im thinking about getting this process done on the pistons, rings and block of my 260. Is this cryogenic business snake oil or the real deal?

[NEECAPR]

Cryo Treating: Good for new snakes!
Cryo treating is good for newer heat treated steel by picking up most of the retained austenite and converting it to martinsite-quickly rather than aging as in maraging. Same for good, heat treated aluminum alloys, although the process is much more complex.
This treatment helps dimensional stability and brings the part to better strength. In steels, cryo does NOT improve the surface hardness. Grind away a few thousanths and you'll find it much harder.
If the parts are years in age, the effect has already taken place, though in a less efficient outcome--some of the potential martensite of the steels being lost to a trapped filler called pearlite--kind of like the fat in hamburger.

[Jay Smith]

I find that cryoing pistons make them alot more dense. When machining a non cryoed piece and one that has had treatment you can see the differences by the tendency for the spoil of non cryoed parts to cut gummy and the treaded one will cuts as a harded composition metal and not at all gummy. I sometimes cryo new bearings , rods, cranks, props, wrist pins according to the application and the customers wishes , I'm no metal guru BUT I hear all the NASCAR folks believe in it so much some of the big dollar teams have in house cryo treating for thier parts ......I'ts cheap insurance and dirt cheap... I use 300 below in Decator, Ill...Great folks.

Good luck,

[coslanzetta]

its definately works on auto race parts,about five years ago a friend of mine was runnin a class that required a solid flat tappet cam,and he got a hold of a camsaft that was put through a cryogentics and the cam definatly held up to high rpm 9k in a small block chevy with out wipe'n a lobe out runnin almost roller style valve springs...but never heard of it on other parts,also pro mod motorcyle parts also have it done.