Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

3.90 Stroke Combo

Old 07-04-2013, 03:54 PM
  #1  
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
sgilbert1967's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Question 3.90 Stroke Combo

Looking to build my first LS engine and swap it in place of my 505ci BBC in my First Gen using an LQ4 as the base block. I keep reading of the woes of using a 4.0 stroke with the bdc issues of piston scuffage, premature wear, and oil consumption. In that I want a long wearing engine I turned to the 3.9 stroke which the LS novice in me assumes should be more desirable for rod angularity, thrust loads and the skirt problem from the cylinder bores being 2 short...SOOO by my calculations I need a piston with a compression height of 1.165 2 valve reliefs and 4.030 diameter to work with a 6.125 rod and 3.90 crank...NO PROBLEM IF YOU RUN A FORD...I cant find a piston with Chevy valve reliefs in this configuration. What am I overlooking?
Also I find it odd that if 4.0 strokes in 6.0 blocks pump oil and have longevity issues why do all the mainstream vendors jump straight from 3.622 to 4 inch stroke in their lineups with 3.75, 3.875 ( from my conventional SBC days), 3.9 variants curiously missing?
The way I have it arranged in my mind based soley on data gathered so far is 4.125 stroke doable for short term max effort race, 4.100 much more desirable for race application with less potential for premature wear, 4.00 durable as a race stroke in the LQ4 block but wont experience anything remotely approaching the legendary LS durability when used as a street or DD engine which brings me to 3.9. Educate me on how hopefully my assumptions are wrong.
one more question and I know this is silly to yall, but what is the difference between conventional 6.125 2.10 SBC rods and "LS 6.125" rods? Is there a big end or edge fillet difference or are they in reality the same rod?

Thanks
Shawn
Old 07-04-2013, 03:57 PM
  #2  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (9)
 
427zm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Georgetown, Tx
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Interested in the responses to this thread. I too have had the same question in mind. Maybe we can have some vendors chime in!

Subscribed!
Old 07-04-2013, 05:48 PM
  #3  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (49)
 
bww3588's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Posts: 8,139
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

Nothing out of the ordinary. It's because most vendors and others jump right to the 4 inch stroke is why you can't find shelf pistons. But...not a problem. Pick your pistons, in bore, dish/dome etc and call the manufacturer and have them set a custom compression height. Last set I bought from diamond cost me 50 bucks extra over the price of the set of 8 for a custom compression depth.
Old 07-04-2013, 05:50 PM
  #4  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (49)
 
bww3588's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Posts: 8,139
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

The small end of the ls rod is offset slightly. You make a small block rod work, but I bet it would end up costing more than just buying ls rods
Old 07-04-2013, 09:03 PM
  #5  
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
sgilbert1967's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by bww3588
Nothing out of the ordinary. It's because most vendors and others jump right to the 4 inch stroke is why you can't find shelf pistons. But...not a problem. Pick your pistons, in bore, dish/dome etc and call the manufacturer and have them set a custom compression height. Last set I bought from diamond cost me 50 bucks extra over the price of the set of 8 for a custom compression depth.
Thanks for the reply would never have thought it would be that little a premium for custom pistons. That's what ill do call em up and see do you remember how long it took em?

Thanks for the info on the rods too
Old 07-04-2013, 10:57 PM
  #6  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (49)
 
bww3588's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Posts: 8,139
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

Not too long. I suggest calling a few different places. Call up hke. They are a direct dealer with wiseco.
Old 07-05-2013, 12:39 AM
  #7  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
 
FIVEPOINT7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

I'm in the same boat you are, using an 4.040 block with a K1 3.900 crank and 6.125 rods, had to order custom pistons. Not a lot of extra money at all.
Old 07-05-2013, 01:00 AM
  #8  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (49)
 
bww3588's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chillicothe/Lima, Ohio
Posts: 8,139
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

Sometimes you can tweak the deck and use a shelf piston. I'm building a 370 with a piston for 6.125 rods. with a 6.100 rod. I have a 9.2155 deck on my 6.0 iron block.
Old 07-05-2013, 08:21 AM
  #9  
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
sgilbert1967's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by FIVEPOINT7
I'm in the same boat you are, using an 4.040 block with a K1 3.900 crank and 6.125 rods, had to order custom pistons. Not a lot of extra money at all.
Can you turn me on to who you called? How long it took? and how pleased you are?

Shawn
Old 07-05-2013, 08:26 AM
  #10  
Super Hulk Smash
iTrader: (7)
 
JakeFusion's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pace, FL
Posts: 11,255
Received 137 Likes on 114 Posts

Default

AES, a sponsor here, does 390cid engines with a 3.80 stroke in 6L blocks. You might be able to get the rotating assembly from them (which is Callies Dragonslayer crank and Compstar rods w/Diamond pistons).

They do the 390 for high boost applications.
Old 07-05-2013, 09:03 AM
  #11  
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
sgilbert1967's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I did find ONE off the Shelf piston for this application. Its a Probe 8.5 cc dish however if I zero deck and mill my L92s say .025 using a .040 MLS gasket i should end up with 10.7-10.8 ( depending on the combustion space of the gasket ) that would be right in the range im looking for ( would prefer a tad more but oh well ).


http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/pisto...-125-rods.html
Old 04-09-2015, 09:39 AM
  #12  
Teching In
 
yossarian19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Back from the dead...

Is there a meaningful difference in the longevity of a 3.90 stroker vs a 4.0 stroker?
Thinking about a torque-oriented build, slowly trying to get my bearings and work out a plan.
Old 04-09-2015, 10:07 AM
  #13  
TECH Veteran
 
Tuskyz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 4,741
Received 534 Likes on 382 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by yossarian19
Back from the dead...

Is there a meaningful difference in the longevity of a 3.90 stroker vs a 4.0 stroker?
Thinking about a torque-oriented build, slowly trying to get my bearings and work out a plan.
Well engine builders say the shorter stroke motors live a longer life due to them keeping the bore further up into the cylinder wall and are able to rev a little bit higher than a motor using a big stroker crank. Plus the shorter stroke motor eould hsvd better control of oil control. I believe that myself..... it's a member on here that built a 333 ci motor using a 4.8 factory crank and putting it into a 6.0 block with LS3 heads. That motor spins 8000 rpm!!! Not the normal LS stroker build for sure! Matter of fact that motor would be called a destroker.
Old 04-09-2015, 10:19 PM
  #14  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
 
A.R. Shale Targa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Fredonia,WI
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 14 Posts
Default

old *** thread but the Arias 1010510 piston is 4.030" bore with a 1.065" compression height.....when run with a .927" wrist pin GEN I style rod at 6.200" length can work with a slightly decked block.
Old 02-09-2016, 04:04 PM
  #15  
Teching In
 
omalley34male's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Sweden
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by bww3588
The small end of the ls rod is offset slightly. You make a small block rod work, but I bet it would end up costing more than just buying ls rods



the newer series LS engines are dead on they DONT have offset like the older sb, bb Chevy

Building The Chevy LS Engine...
Chevy engine featured an offset connecting rod, the
LS series features on-center connecting rods (pin
bore in relation to big end bore). Do not use offset
connecting rods in any Gen III engine!

Enginebuildermag.com
On most rods (except Chevy “LS” engines), the pin bores are offset slightly.

LS Engine insight
While the “standard” small block/big block Chevy engine featured an offset connecting rod, the LS series features on-center connecting rods (pin bore in relation to big end bore). Do not use offset connecting rods in any Gen III
Old 02-09-2016, 06:23 PM
  #16  
Staging Lane
 
panic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Lynbrook, NY
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

What other benefit do you get with the 4.8 stroke = high RPM?
Really expensive rocker arms...
Old 02-09-2016, 09:48 PM
  #17  
KCS
Moderator
iTrader: (20)
 
KCS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 8,848
Received 307 Likes on 207 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by omalley34male
the newer series LS engines are dead on they DONT have offset like the older sb, bb Chevy

Building The Chevy LS Engine...
Chevy engine featured an offset connecting rod, the
LS series features on-center connecting rods (pin
bore in relation to big end bore). Do not use offset
connecting rods in any Gen III engine!

Enginebuildermag.com
On most rods (except Chevy “LS” engines), the pin bores are offset slightly.

LS Engine insight
While the “standard” small block/big block Chevy engine featured an offset connecting rod, the LS series features on-center connecting rods (pin bore in relation to big end bore). Do not use offset connecting rods in any Gen III
It used to be done pretty regularly when there weren't a lot of LS rod choices out there. It works fine, but there are enough LS rods now that it's not really an issue.

FYI, did you see how long ago he posted that? I'm not even sure he posts here anymore...
Old 04-01-2018, 12:34 PM
  #18  
Registered User
 
Tjconger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

JE pistons had a very good fb article on 3.9 vs 4.0 stroke and they have all piston designs for you


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: 3.90 Stroke Combo



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:49 PM.