3rd vs 4th Gen Rods
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 77
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From: OKC, OK
3rd vs 4th Gen Rods How much stronger are the newer, 4th gen rods found in the 05+ motors? I was originally looking for 05+ 5.3's however Ive found a couple good deals on some 01-02 motors. Would these shortblocks still hold up at 700whp on E85?
Just get a newer iron one with gen 4 stuff, L33's are all hype (I do wish I had one though, lol). I've trapped 112.9 in the 8th at 3900lbs with the older gen 3 rods and 862 heads. I just sold that motor and put a gen4 5.3 together with milled 799 heads and a cam from this^^^ guy. It should hustle pretty good when I eventually have time to work on my own junk!
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Ohio
Seeing as the L33 is the only engine with stock rods/pistons so far to run a 4 second pass in the 1/8th mile, I wouldn't really call it hype. Skinnies ran the first 8 second quarter mile stock bottom end pass with an L33 if I remember right. There must be some magic joo joo in them.
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Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
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From: Ohio
Type the topic of this thread into Google. There is a few side by side comparisons out there. The 4th gen rods are much much beefier than the 3rd gen.
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Ohio
I see this from time to time. I've heard of 3 LS2 engines breaking rods below 1000 HP. At the same time I've seen 3 different engines hit 1300 HP on gen 4 rods over and over and over and repeatedly beat on them without failures. It could've been heat related or excess low-end torque that did yours in.
Seeing as the L33 is the only engine with stock rods/pistons so far to run a 4 second pass in the 1/8th mile, I wouldn't really call it hype. Skinnies ran the first 8 second quarter mile stock bottom end pass with an L33 if I remember right. There must be some magic joo joo in them.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: OKC, OK
Main reason I wanted the L33 is the better 243/799 heads. Im not TOO concerned with weight, but being a GTO, ever little bit does help. I know I could just find some heads for the LM7, but a newer LM7 (05+) is only about $300-400 cheaper than the L33, at least here in the OK/TX area, so I almost feel itd be worth it to just go L33. Also LKQ has a couple <100k L33's and theyre good about trading the motor out if I tear it down and find its damaged.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 77
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From: OKC, OK
$1130 I believe. I talked the guy into waiving the core charge for me, and it would be delivered to the place on Reno for free. Also said if I bring in my tax ID theyd waive the tax so itd basically be $1130 out the door.
