For those who went H/C 346 on stock short block did you have to rebuild your short block with new bearings and piston rings?

Is it true that High HP H/C will eventually lead to short block rebuild because old bearings and piston rings had to be freshened up for the H/C?

 

I would like to know too

 

I would say it depends on the mileage and condition of the short block. I just did H/C on my 98 last summer and it had 34k on it. All I did was replace the rod bolts with ARP's, the oil pump with a an LS6 ported one and a new timing chain and sprockets. I would say if the motor is in good shape as far as compression, I would do at least the oil pump, if it is pre2000 then do the rod bolts for sure. That is just my opinion but if I had an 02 I would have done the same as I did to my 98. It is insurance because if a rod bolt lets go you will be looking for another shortblock. You can always inspect the rod bearings while you are doing the bolts. It also important to know how radical a H/C combo you want. If you plan on making huge #'s or spraying alot at it then you should maybe go to forged internals.

 

Did the cam swap at 34k and added the heads at 55k, car is now at 76k. Shift at 6500, oil pressure is 50psi on cold start up 40psi when warm and idling, WOT 65-70psi and still on stock everything.

I'm sure in the future it'll let go at some point which I'm fine with. I'm already planning on a 6.0 swap. Until then, I'll keep hammering it just like I always do.

 

i agree. i still have the stock short block with heads and cam just like 90 percent of the people on here

 

My bottom is stock.. Strong as hell

 

I'm in predicament myself. I'm going to hit 100k soon. I just wanted H/C, hit over 400rwhp, run low/mid 11s, drive that for a while until I feel slow again. But now I feel like I need to do something with the bottom end. So if I rebuild it I'm going to be tempted going with a bigger engine, which means more $. I wish I had like 30k so I can slap a cam on it and be happy. I don't know what do so as far as a budget bottom end rebuild. It's going to be a nice chunk of change when a shop has to pull the engine and refresh it.

 

Take it from me...fix up the bottom end

 

Depending on the condition of the engine, the bearings (main & rod) you might want to leave alone. Some Katech rod bolts would be a wise investment to protect your bottom end and prevent (hopefully) a spun bearing as you will be less likely to have the bolts stretch (which allows you to spin a bearing).

Go with Katechs so you don't have to worry about changing the balance of your rotating assembly.