LSLucas

How many have a boosted SBE 5.3 with the factory rod connecting bolts? I've been hearing hit or miss things and want some opinions. 700hp max.

MY_2K_Z

iTrader: (1)

Rod bolts are the least of your worries at those power levels. Keep the tune in check and they will be fine.

6669camaro

iTrader: (1)

I made 706whp blowing through the Converter on a bone stock 2001 5.3 + cam. Put about 1000 miles on it and no problems

RonSSNova

iTrader: (3)

I believe bolts changed when gen 4 rods came about.
So maybe depends on the year of the engine.
That said, Rod bolt failures seem rare.

Although maybe not smart, mine have seen 7000 on numerous passes.

About 800 RWHP

Ron

JoeNova

Power and torque have little effect on rod bolts. They see no load while the piston is being forced downward.

RPM and detonation kill them. In other words, keep the revs low and the tune in check.

St3v3

Who has had problems with the gen 3 rod bolts? Would be interesting with some information

PontiacPOWA

Rod bolt failure is an ls1tech wivestale. Gen 3 and 4. Doesnt matter. The rods will bend or break before the bolts do. End of story

parrisw

I'm building a 5.3, and since torque to yeild, I'm replacing them with ARP, Pistons out to do rings.

spray280

iTrader: (5)

I torque stock rod bolts to 35lbs. May not be right but I ran my 5.3
at 12-15lbs & even 6-8 hits at 27lbs while trying to figure out the
boost controller. Everything still looked brand new when I pulled it.

2muchboostNY

iTrader: (8)

My 05 has the stronger Gen 4 rod design. These have been pushed pretty damn far into the HP/TQ range .

Forcefed86

iTrader: (4)

A torque to angle gauge is super cheap. You can even rent them at auto parts stores for free. I just run factory torque TTA spec. The only OEM rod bolt failures I've ever seen were on NA cars spinning well over 7k. I've never seen or heard of a turbo LS with a failed rod bolt.... has anyone else?

parrisw

Going by the manual. And it's common practice to replace torque to yeild bolts when taken apart.

Forcefed86

iTrader: (4)

Rod bolts aren't TTY fasteners and can be reused. GM released a Service letter about it. I remember how many times they said they could be retorqued... something like 3-4 times.

3 window

iTrader: (1)

Exactly. I think there's some confusion between TTY (torque to yield) and TTA (torque to angle) bolts.

parrisw

It said to replace boots in the manual. I didn't look for any TSB's though. Manual says on new install they can be tightened 3 times. However it says to replace if they are taken apart after being "used".

a-low

iTrader: (26)

So can get away without using an angle gauge? Just torquing them a little more? My 5.3 was sitting for a year and somehow got water in a cylinder. Damn thing won't even spin now.

parrisw

People do it.

I bought ARP studs.