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Building for turbo?

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Old 11-04-2015, 11:43 PM
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Default Building for turbo?

Any ideas what people recommend for a 700rwhp + turbo build strength wise?

I have my topend built fully already. I am getting rod bolts, head studs, best gaskets possible, and new bearings.

Crank I was keeping stock. I am up in the air about rods and pistons? What power can the stock rods and pistons handle? Or, if people usually change them for turbo even with rod bolts, what is a decent rod & piston set to buy that isn't something like $1500? Doing a 700rwhp build here, so not looking for pistons and rods meant for a 1200rwhp build lol. However if I can get decent pistons for around $500 mark or so, I would def. consider it.
Old 11-04-2015, 11:52 PM
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You can get a decent set of Pistons for a good price and a set of compstar rods won't really set you back that much or you could buy a good used set
Old 11-04-2015, 11:54 PM
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I saw a set of rods & pistons are only around $1000 on texas speed. What else would be the week point if I did rods & pistons? What can stock rods & pistons with rod bolts hold reliably?
Old 11-05-2015, 12:27 AM
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That depends a lot on the tune. I have seen as high as 750rwhp on SBE ls1s. I have a set of diamond Pistons and compstar rods I have been debating on either selling or using and then just getting my 5.3 freshened up with Gen iv stuff
Old 11-16-2015, 01:38 PM
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I think im just doing rod bolts, head studs, etc. Was going to do pistons and rods but then figured my weak point is still the 5.7 alum block. So I would be essentially wasting $1000 of rods and pistons when it goes anyways. lol
Old 11-16-2015, 03:52 PM
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I daily drive my aluminum 5.3 at 20 PSI which makes right around 700 wheel. Stock engine.

Don't do rod bolts.....
Old 11-23-2015, 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by JoeNova
I daily drive my aluminum 5.3 at 20 PSI which makes right around 700 wheel. Stock engine.

Don't do rod bolts.....
Why not? If you dd yours at 700.. wouldn't rod bolts help?
Old 11-24-2015, 01:28 AM
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The rod bolts would help hold the big end together after the rod bends. lol
Old 11-24-2015, 07:07 AM
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Originally Posted by fccs
Why not? If you dd yours at 700.. wouldn't rod bolts help?
I don't rev it high enough to need them. Power has little effect on the rod bolts.
Old 11-24-2015, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by JoeNova
I don't rev it high enough to need them. Power has little effect on the rod bolts.
Amen.
Old 11-24-2015, 09:53 AM
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When replacing rod bolts it's usually common practice to resize the rods. It can distort the cap.
Old 11-24-2015, 10:06 AM
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I don't plan on reving past 6800 like I do now with or without boost. You would suggest leaving everything go as is for a turbo kit instead of doing rod bolts? I have heard the rod bolts are the weak part, not the rods themselves as much.
Old 11-24-2015, 10:17 AM
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I would leave it as is. But resizing the rods and adding bolts will give u piece of mind than go for it. I just wanted to leave the sbe alone as it was a low mileage gen4.
Old 11-24-2015, 10:33 AM
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You are easier on bolts with turbo vs Na.

If the bolts are happy at the rpm and bobweight NA, they will be beyond fine with a turbo added
Old 11-24-2015, 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by rotary1307cc
You are easier on bolts with turbo vs Na.

If the bolts are happy at the rpm and bobweight NA, they will be beyond fine with a turbo added
Well that's the thing, I plan to keep it the same 65-6800rpms anyways (Probably 6500). The thing I'm not sure on is while everything is apart spend some money and do rod bolts and new bearings or leave it. If leaving it the way it is at 108k miles will handle what im doing then I would. I'm just worried because of mileage that maybe while everything is out to do the rod bolts and new bearings for some added relief. Can more chime in who have a turbo or have experience with 600rwhp+ boost builds?
Old 11-24-2015, 11:33 AM
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Zero reason for rod bolts
Old 11-24-2015, 11:47 AM
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Want me to show you lots of pics of broken and mangled rods with the bolts still in place?

Rod bolts see the most stress at the top of the exhaust stroke. The piston forces the exhaust out, and then is stopped and yanked back in the opposite direction with no force coming from the top. Heavy pistons/rods and high RPM put stress on the bolts. Turbo engines have high exhaust pressure and positive intake pressure, reducing the stress on the bolts between the exhaust and intake stroke at TDC.

When you have ignition and the piston is being forced down creating torque, the rod bolts see almost zero stress. Even the cap is being pushed against the journal by the downward moving crank, so technically with both halves of the rod being forced into the crank, the bolts will see a couple ten-thousands of extra clearance at high cylinder pressures and will actually see reduced stress.

But if you want to buy bolts, have the rods line-honed to ensure they are round, and then order the special clearance bearings from Clevite, so you feel better, you can do that.

99% of the guys here that make 4 digit power and torque numbers bend gen 4 rods long before they ever have issues with the bolts.
Old 11-24-2015, 11:59 PM
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If that's the case I won't even bother. I kinda wanted to put new bearings on just because of the mileage, would you say change them just while the motor is out or leave it be? I have my topend built, ported ls6 oil pump already, and car has been run with amsoil race oil since camswap years ago so engine is definitely maintained.
Old 11-28-2015, 09:27 PM
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So I guess ill leave bottom end as is with 108k miles?
Old 11-28-2015, 10:32 PM
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700? Nothing. SBE.


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