Bill'sWS6

iTrader: (6)

I have a Lingenfelter shortblock in my car. The previous owner put the motor in the car. Looking at what they did, they put in 2002 year connecting rods (my car is a 2000 SS). The cut sheet says the motor has Mahle forged pistons, Mahle file fit rings, GM Crankshaft, GM LS1 connecting rods, Speed pro heavy duty rod bearings & Speed Pro heavy duty main bearings.

So, my question is do the 2002 model year connecting rods have more strength than the 2000 model year?

Also, how much better is the setup with the Speed Pro heavy duty rod bearings and main bearings. Do they make it that much stronger?

Thanks,

Bill

badazz81z28

iTrader: (6)

From everything I was able to read up on in the past, the bolts are the concern, not the rods. The newer engines have better rod bolts.

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

Even then, in late 00 the switched to the "better" rod bolts. I believe. That still doesn't change the fact they still need upgraded if it's turning high rpms.

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

The rods are the same for all ls1's from 97-04. I'm not sure on the ls6 engines.

Bill'sWS6

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for your input. Anyone else have any info on this?

wildcamaro

iTrader: (15)

As far as the bearings go, a bearing is a bearing...can't really make a "heavy duty" bearing...they can coat them, and some of the higher end bearings are chamfered, which usually isn't necessary unless running an aftermarket crank...do a little research and you'll find out

crazyelf

iTrader: (21)

Stronger rod bolts starting in 01 for the ls1/ls6

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

Yep. Stronger rod bolts cam in the "LS6" engine which is on all 01+ F-Bodies. Once the Z06 came out, GM phased out the LS1 and just put the LS6 shortblock in everything. With it came the better rod bolts for the 6600RPM stock limiter of the Z06.

If you plan to run upto 6800 or less, the LS6 Rod Bolts would be fine.

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

A little off base here.

The only thing "ls6" related that the f body got was the block, and it was only a very few 02 models and even less 01's. Simply because of a production shortage of ls1 blocks.

Gunslinger09

The stock rods and crank are plenty strong for most anything you want to do. As most everyone has pointed out its the bolts that fail not the rods themselves. Recon/Re-Size the stockers and add some good quality bolts from ARP and call it a day.

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

The LS6 shortblock is in my 02. I just yanked the engine out. It has 241 heads, so that makes it an "LS1" RPO code. But the shortblock is the same as the Z06 FWIW.

All 02s have this from what I've been told. And I believe most if not all 01s. At the very least they have the LS6 block and rod bolts. Everything else is the same anyway. Just the cam, heads, valves, and valvesprings were different, but then we are talking longblock, and I certainly wasn't in my original post.

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

25% of the blocks, BLOCK ONLY, in 2002.

10% in 2001, again, block only.

Both ending in 1168

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

Is that Fbody or Fbody and Vette?

I ask because there is only one PN for 02. I guess the sn determines it?

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

The info above (percentages) is F-Body pertinent only. Again, this is just for the 1168 block itself.

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

Ah. Well the Vettes all got LS6 block in 01. I assume the rod bolts are the same since only one rod PN exists...

B Grubbie

02 Fbodys came with a ls6 intake manifold as well correct? or was I misinformed?

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Both 01's and 02's

Smokin92z4

iTrader: (1)

Well I have a factory ls6 block I'm gonna spray 200-300
Stock crank and rods , what bolts should I get and why resize them ? Car has 70k miles
And bearings and crank look perfect should I get katech rod bolts I heard there great and still check rod and crank for resizing ??

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

Good luck with that...

Gunslinger09

Well you can do that with good pistons and the right cam. I would recommend a stand alone fuel system for that much nitrous and a spot on tune. The rods need to be resized for most aftermarket rod bolts be cause the clamping force is greater and it distorts the cap differently than the stock rod bolt. You don't want to go through everything with the build up and have it spin a bearing in the first few miles because the rod caps aren't clamping down correctly.