BLWN1

iTrader: (6)

Neat article...

nastychevelle

iTrader: (7)

It was dyno'd on Westech's dyno.

The Alchemist

iTrader: (19)

So if piston ring expansion is a major factor in ring land deaths, and expansion is caused by excessive heat, then using a water/methanol injection should help reduce some of the heat and help the motor live a little longer.

Does that make sense?

Loudmouth LS1

iTrader: (10)

Running E85 should do the same, correct?

defrag010

Alright, got some pictures of the different 231 stock cast rods. First pic is them lined up. Left to right: 75-88, 93-95, 88-92. Second pic shows the cast parting line on all of the rods. Third pic shows the pool of all the cast buick rods to choose from.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1220328_n.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._1728668_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._6753860_n.jpg

SAATR

Well, I know little about Buick engines and was under the impression that cast connecting rods hadn't been used in anything but lawnmowers in many years. Many people assume that all factory connecting rods are cast, and that forgings are high performance or aftermarket only, which is wrong. I assumed (there's that word again) that it was from this angle that you were basing your comments. My apologies.

However, the pictures do little to prove to me that they are cast. I've seen enough factory con-rods (ones that I'm sure are forged) with parting lines both thick and thin to be skeptical. You seem to know something of what you speak, but is there a reliable source that you can point me to for such information? I've done my own research and found nothing conclusive. TA Performance says they're steel, but that's all.

07MCSS

iTrader: (3)

I read it yesterday. What they did was awesome! These engines are pretty solid. Durability with boost or any mods is going to rely heavily on the quality of the tune in my opinion. I have 10.5 psi wastegate springs in mine and it sees 9 psi at the gauge with no issues. I'd love to crank it up to 15psi and break the transmission!

FakeSnake

is there an internet article on this anywhere? cant get a copy of the mag since im in afghanistan...

defrag010

Quite a few late model engines still came equipped with cast rods. 4.0 AMC 6's (jeeps) had them all the way up through the 90's. I do not know of any specific online source that states that the rods are cast, but I am basing this knowledge on many years of doing machine work at production rebuilders where probably 99% of all the domestically produced engines you can think of have passed through my hands. I'm not going to go to lengths to find a source, but a quick google search yielded this website about turbo trans ams (which came with LC2 engines) which states:and this website, also about TTA's, states:

As far as determining a forging vs. casting based on the parting line, the visual differences have been established and there really is no variances or "grey area" between the types, so there is no mistaking what is what. Anyone who has worked at a foundry will definitely confirm that the parting lines on the buick rods in my pictures are indeed that of a casting. In another quick google search, I have compiled some images to illustrate the difference.

Here is a picture of the parting line on a forged rod for reference to my pictures:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0wTo_KliKnk/St...I/DSC09674.JPG


Casting parting line on a crankshaft:
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4...ingline4zi.jpg
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/7...metal05nh7.jpg

Forging parting line on a crankshaft:
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6...edcrank5fn.jpg
http://images4.fotki.com/v44/photos/...edcrank-vi.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~checkwith...s/forged2a.jpg

Here is a picture of the same 4.6 ford crankshaft in a forged(left) vs. cast(right) version:
http://www.f150online.com/galleries/...1306-65939.jpg

Again, look closely at the parting line on the rods in my pictures and you will clearly see that they are castings.

SAATR

Well what do you know! I suppose I haven't ever seen a cast rod in a automobile engine before. When all you play with is Ford, Chrysler, and Chevy V8's you think they're all built that way. Thanks for humoring me defrag!

stock48

iTrader: (17)

Go over to the truck side foose posted good pics of the artical.

nastychevelle

iTrader: (7)

Heres the skinny:

The goal of the test was to test the true limits of the LM7, which is the 5.3L truck engine based on the LSx series engines. Pretty much an LS1 with an iron block in a nutshell.

They picked up what they thought was an 5.3L LM7 but, as they found out after the testing was over, it was actually a 4.8L LR4 which is the smallest of the LSx based iron truck engines. One phenomenal part about the engine was the #8 cylinder had a large rust spot etched in it that their hone wouldn't remove....they left it there.

For the top end they upgraded to 2" intake valves, stock exhaust valves and did a very mild port job on the heads. Flow numbers went from 220/220 to 300/220 cfm on the intake and exhaust respectively. ARP studs with Fel-Pro MLS gaskets kept the heads down. A mild Comp Cams cam was installed along with the supplied lifters, pushrods, springs and rockers remained stock. A FAST LSXR intake was installed as well with a big TB.

The short block(except the cam) was all stock. Even the original bearings and rings that were on the motor when it was purchased were reused. They even sanded the rust off the #8 rings and reused them!

Fueling was handled by 75 lbs/hr injectors and upgraded fuel rails. It was run on Rockett 118.

The two turbochargers were CXracing 76mm units run off of flipped shorty truck headers(no name brand headers).

The engine was run for SIXTY dyno pulls over half of which were claimed to be at 1000+ hp. In it's final trim, in between 26 and 27psi, the engine produced just over 1200hp. What stopped the testing was not engine failure but an ignition failure(all sensors and electrical components like the ignition were stock). The engine was 100% a-ok by the end of the testing.

1320

iTrader: (6)

wow, richard at west coast cylinder head needs to talk to these magicians. They do a mild port job, he does a complete cnc job......for almost the same numbers......

My wcch flowed 307.....and they were around 1600$......so that 4.8 isnt that cheap probably.

350 for a cam.........400 on injectors, 1200 on the intake......300 tb.......250 arps? 1205 in gaskets........

now someone has a 4000+ $ 4.8......plus 1000 in turbos, 1000 in pipes and exhuast, 1000 in fuel system......500 intercooler......now its a 7500$ 4.8 that almost everyone will admit could break at anytime. hhhmmmm.

When it does break, youll need to sell the injectors to go bigger....another 500, plus the rebuild......of what undoubtably would be a bigger engine, so its start over time, and prob a different cam too.
Good investment?

JRENIGAR

iTrader: (37)

^^^ Thanks...

crzygoat

sick stuff

got-a-ls1

iTrader: (12)

all of which you would spend in addition to a built motor. if the motor blows it isnt going to take that stuff out. 1205 in gaskets?

Transamthunder

That was an awsome build. I was pretty slack jawed when I seen when they where using the 5.3, and even more shocked when they found out they had a 4.8. I have often wondered if these smaller ones where capable of making it up that high or not. I think if I used my current 5.3, forged pistons would be my first investment though. I know lot of people are putting the little ones in cars light enough to run nines, it would be cool to run lower nines, and say you have a capable 1000 horse car, and knock down hi 20s in the gas mileage department. Though I would think more mid 20s with a 4l80e, since it soaks up a bit of the power and efficiancy.....ideas, ideas, ideas!

IT_SS

iTrader: (5)

so.... I should have my LQ4 re-ringed?

zacht

iTrader: (18)

yeah! i love this article!

i would like to know more about this "free mod" about spacing the top ring gap. anyone know of a writeup or anything here? it would be good info!

maxgee

iTrader: (5)

Got mine yesterday and was about to post up.
Great news for the lsx crowd. I think the lsx has eclipsed, stock wise the toyota supra 2jz motors.