00Vette

iTrader: (4)

............only good for 500rwhp??

I heard from a pretty reputable source that the connecting rods and pistons were to be replaced if you have a setup putting down over 500rwhp.

Has anyone else heard anything like that?

I have read of lots and lots of people on here who have setups with nitrous, superchargers, turbos, etc. that have stock pistons, connecting rods, crank, and haven't had any issues.

Anyone have any good inputs on this?????????

orangeapeel

iTrader: (18)

It is true that people take the stock hyperuetectics into some higher hp applications. There are several on here that have done this successfully. You crank will go well up to and surpass 1200 rwhp. With the boost getting cranked up the pistons will definitely catch the heat. literally.

67Firebird455

iTrader: (27)

Guess it's really all in the tune. You can still break rings/pistons and crack the crank from excessive detonation. My pistons came apart on 7# of boost, well actually blew up at 5#, but that was all due to too lean of a tune and too high of compression on the stock longblock. If you don't over-do it, you'll be fine on the stock rotating assembly.

rufretic

iTrader: (37)

I'd like to hear some more info on this. I'm looking to get around 550-600rwhp with cam heads and supercharger pushing around 9psi and want to make sure it will hold up. If they should be upgraded for a safer set-up then thats what I will do. Can stronger pistons and rods be installed without removing the engine and without doing any machine work?

Michael02hawk

iTrader: (26)

500rwhp on a stock block is pushing it. You might want to concider this mindset. Build up your bolt ons (cam/heads, etc.) & supercharge it.

Have fun with the setup on the stock block, but just be prepared to loose a piston or 2. Once the block goes south, go ahead and plan on the re-build (forged) at that time. Just dont be surpsied when it happens.

Nope. Engine needs to be dropped.

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

600+rwhp can be done in supercharger fairly reliably (data logger and awesome tune) and near 700rwhp in some cases (turbo apps).

Nitrous can also cross over 600rwhp with the right tune.

There's no reason to think the stock engine won't take it, but in time, seals, rings, bearings, and everything else will start to fail with consistent boost. More than likely, though, the tune will be off and you'll burn through a piston. The rods on the LS1 are actually quite good (especially with an upgraded rod bolt) and can take the boost without much trouble. You can as easily blow an engine with 6lbs of boost at 450rwhp as you can with 12 at 600.

rufretic

iTrader: (37)

Good info, thanks. If I can't do them without removing the engine then I think I'll just throw on the blower and see how long it lasts.

gun5l1ng3r

Does FI make the rings wear at a VERY accelerated rate?
I have always heard that your rings will be the first thing to go (maybe pistons if there is detenation) when running more than 5-6 PSI.

icantdrift

iTrader: (1)

not necessarily the rings themselves, but it's easy to blow the ringlands off the piston with some bad detonation. with a good tune on a mild FI setup extra engine wear is pretty much negligible.

Grimes

iTrader: (3)

I would trust the stock pistons to 500rwhp as long as you didn't have any detonation.

erikthegoalie

iTrader: (29)

what about this set up...full bolt ons..ms3, PRC terminator heads, LT's and TD's....and a 100 shot along the road sometime?? shoudl i expect that to go quickly??

Erik

rufretic

iTrader: (37)

I think that could last a while depending on how often you spray. With FI the extra power is always there so I think thats why they pop pistons quicker.

Rob Hood

have read in other threads here that the rod bolt is the weak link overall for most moderate (<600HP) buildups. Am getting ready for cam/LT upgrade with ported heads in the future.

Ksett

Jake this really isn't the case, if you go over to some of the Vette forums where there are many more people running high HP apps, most will say that over 500-550 rwhp will require that you have a short block fund. Almost everyone over there realizes this and they run their stock shorblocks until they die and forge their motor afterwards.

braap

iTrader: (4)

We managed 610whp/650wtq with a twin turbo LS1 that's bone stock except for Patriot dual springs. The engine seemed fine at that power level.

Edit: this was an '04 motor with only about 6,000 miles or so.

SDMForever

I believe this is true! I did it