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Limits of a stock LS1 connecting rod?

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Old Aug 12, 2015 | 04:50 PM
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Default Limits of a stock LS1 connecting rod?

I'm wondering what is the rpm and hp limits on the stock rod with arp 2000 rod bolts? I know the stock rod bolts are the weak link, but what about the stock rod with arp bolts? Is 7000 rpm too much? 450 rwhp then a little n2o?
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Old Aug 12, 2015 | 05:01 PM
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Did you just drop the pan and put in rod bolts without resizing...Bad idea IMHO. I think about 6700 is as far as I would go with "stock" bottom end.
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Old Aug 12, 2015 | 05:05 PM
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No. It's just a question. Saving for my build. I will be going with forged pistons and rebuild the shortblock.
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Old Aug 12, 2015 | 05:11 PM
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Wheew...smart man
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Old Aug 12, 2015 | 06:14 PM
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I'm running stock rods with ARPs, stock crank, CP Bullet pistons.

I've beat the snot out of it for 3 summers. I shift at 7,000.

So far not a single issue!

I did of course have the machine work done to make sure they were true after installing the ARP rod bolts.

Rev limiter is at 7200 and hit it in this video at the end of 2nd gear.
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Old Aug 12, 2015 | 06:25 PM
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That's what I want to see. Any nitrous?
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Old Aug 12, 2015 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by jhshnh
That's what I want to see. Any nitrous?
Nope, all N/A.
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Old Aug 13, 2015 | 01:13 AM
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I turned my completely stock 02 7100 rpm Everytime I drove it for a year. It ended up hydrolocking and broke a rod but the bearings all looked brand new. A few buddies even went for 4th and hit 2nd a couple times. I will say they don't like coolant sitting in the cylinder lol.
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Old Aug 13, 2015 | 07:52 AM
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No. It's just a question. Saving for my build. I will be going with forged pistons and rebuild the shortblock.
What's the point of doing all that work and spending all that money only to put back in stock LS1 rods? If they were even Gen IV rods I'd say those are pretty decent units, but earlier Gen III ones are crap.

Not only that, but by the time you spend money on the ARP bolts and the machine work to make them fit you've already spent just as much money as a forged steel rod that already comes with ARP bolts.

For the same kind of cash I'd take a forged steel rod with ARP bolts rather than sticking ARP bolts in a Gen III rod.
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Old Aug 13, 2015 | 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by redtan
What's the point of doing all that work and spending all that money only to put back in stock LS1 rods? If they were even Gen IV rods I'd say those are pretty decent units, but earlier Gen III ones are crap.

Not only that, but by the time you spend money on the ARP bolts and the machine work to make them fit you've already spent just as much money as a forged steel rod that already comes with ARP bolts.

For the same kind of cash I'd take a forged steel rod with ARP bolts rather than sticking ARP bolts in a Gen III rod.
My thoughts exactly...
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Old Aug 13, 2015 | 12:59 PM
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I agree and wished I had bought a better rod!
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Old Aug 13, 2015 | 06:58 PM
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Well you guys answered my question. I think I'll spring for some better rods.
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Old Aug 14, 2015 | 12:48 AM
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Iv seen a few gen3 5.3s stock bottom end making 900+rwhp turning at 6500+rpm on youtube..
I think these are the same cars not sure though.. but both are stock bottom ends .. Edit: yeah this was a 2nt design rod motor i think.. from the little research iv done.. but still wow

But denmah from sloppy mechanics, i think in most all his turbo builds was making from 600 to 800+ rwhp on stock first design rods and he said that the first design tend to bend not break unlike the 2nt design which just snap once the limit is reached..

Also have a read at this, they couldn't break it, stock bottom end, it made 1300+hp on the stand.. http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/eng...5-3l-big-bang/

They also did this to a 4.8 the first time thinking it was a 5.3.. and made 1200+hp at 7000rpm
http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...g-bang-theory/



"World recording breaking stock bottom end 5.3 blows on dyno.It has been through 80 bottles of nitrous 2 years of turbo in red dragon and now a successful run at being turbo in this camaro.It was a great run for this all stock bottom end car."

Think it blew up do to detonation, would have happen to any type rod and piston combo..


Last edited by the404man; Aug 14, 2015 at 01:24 AM.
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