ARP LS1 rod bolt install into a 5.3L, need help
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Not sure what the deal is. I think I'm losing all my mechanical abilities! After receiving advice from you all I decided I better not re-use my old rod bolts and purchased LS1 rod bolts for my 5.3L. Thought it would be simple just to swap them out.
Well I ran into a snag. Not sure if the ls1 rods are different than the 5.3L, but there seems to be a sleeve in the 5.3L rods that must not be there on the LS1's. Can I push these "sleeves" out? The ARP bolts taper out towards head of the bolt. Here are some pics.
The sleeve does not appear to go all the way through the rod.
![](http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/bmxmon/K20D2152.jpg)
The head of the bolt, as far down to the rod as it could easily go.
![](http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/bmxmon/K20D2153.jpg)
You can (kinda) see the taper on the bolt in this one.
![](http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/bmxmon/K20D2155.jpg)
Any ideas? ARP's site doesn't seem to be too informational. Thanks!
Alex N
Well I ran into a snag. Not sure if the ls1 rods are different than the 5.3L, but there seems to be a sleeve in the 5.3L rods that must not be there on the LS1's. Can I push these "sleeves" out? The ARP bolts taper out towards head of the bolt. Here are some pics.
The sleeve does not appear to go all the way through the rod.
![](http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/bmxmon/K20D2152.jpg)
The head of the bolt, as far down to the rod as it could easily go.
![](http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/bmxmon/K20D2153.jpg)
You can (kinda) see the taper on the bolt in this one.
![](http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/bmxmon/K20D2155.jpg)
Any ideas? ARP's site doesn't seem to be too informational. Thanks!
Alex N
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Awesome, thanks! That is what I figured, but I didn't know if the ARP bolts were large enough to fit snugly so the caps couldn't move around. I appreciate the help!
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The caps are "cracked" which keeps the caps from moving around. The rod bolts simply provide that "clamping force" or stretch to keep the cracked surfaces together when hammering on it. So the bolts don't need to be snug in the hole.
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Yes remove the ferrule and the bolts do need to fit very snug, on the old style SBC rods the bolts have to be pressed in with a press, you not only have up and down forces but side to side forces, being the reasons they need to fit very snug.
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You chamfer the top of the rod/ferule, so the radius of the bolt will clear. That way, the bolts remain snug, and the radius clearance will allow the underside of the bolt head to seat properly. Don't allow that clearance, and you can crack the rod cap....
Same goes for putting the ARP bolts in a stock rod... Gotta have the radius cleared.
Same goes for putting the ARP bolts in a stock rod... Gotta have the radius cleared.