Rod Bolt Failure
99 t/a bolt ons 93k on bottom end. rod broke in half, shot through block, rod bolts were fine. BUT for cheap insurance on my new motor I bought the ARP2000 rod botls supposedly good to like 9k rpms. its better safe than sorry, I wasn't gonna run a risk in blowing up 6k worth of **** for an 80$ fix
TECH Senior Member
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Western Burbs of Detroit
Yes upgraded rod bolts is definately the way to go. I will be sure to put a few bucks into the rod bolts when I get my new engine in the future. Hopefully I won't need to worry about that for awhile. Spent enough money on my car already.
Originally Posted by Thule
i heard this about the 98 bolts, and changed to katech bolts, the crank rod bearing was wpuned as hell.. (sao i belive that romour) but the rod bolt was fine
I heard the Katech's don't require the rods to be resized...what do you think?
Im not sure, I torqued all the bolts to 40 ft lbs on the first pass, loosened them, torqued them to 40 ft bls again, and on the third pass I loosened them and torqued to 40 ft lbs for a final time. I though this stretched the rod bolts and allowed them to be centered?
Did we do it right or are we missing somrthing as well?
Did we do it right or are we missing somrthing as well?
Originally Posted by ls1muscle
I forsee 1-2 blown motors in the next couple of days 
Funny chit
Guys, debating about a VERY cheap mod that improves the durability of your motor is a little ridiculous.
Just change the rod bolts
Originally Posted by The Dragon
Funny chit
Guys, debating about a VERY cheap mod that improves the durability of your motor is a little ridiculous.
Just change the rod bolts
I only have about 2,000 miles on my stock bottom end but since 750 miles it has been 6,500-6,800 rpm's at launch with 7100 rpm shifts all track only. Not sure how safe thats been for me but it's still holding together making 450rwhp threw a 12 bolt with 4.30 gears and a steel driveshaft. I am going with a bigger cam and will be spinning the engine a little higher so I am upgrading to the Katech rod bolts for peace of mind . Wonder if the stock rod bolts would hold if I kept them in
Originally Posted by tee-boy
Very cheap put a PITA.
But a motor failure/swap would be a bigger PITA; much more expensive too.
Originally Posted by 02SOMWS6
I only have about 2,000 miles on my stock bottom end but since 750 miles it has been 6,500-6,800 rpm's at launch with 7100 rpm shifts all track only. Not sure how safe thats been for me but it's still holding together making 450rwhp threw a 12 bolt with 4.30 gears and a steel driveshaft. I am going with a bigger cam and will be spinning the engine a little higher so I am upgrading to the Katech rod bolts for peace of mind . Wonder if the stock rod bolts would hold if I kept them in
I'd upgrade the rod bolts just to be safe were I you.
The valvetrain should concern people more than the internals
Spinning high-lift/high-duration camshafts to ~7K rpm's requires a stout valvetrain; that would be the weak link IMO.
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Originally Posted by Hocky
On my 2002 motor, I saw 7200rpm on a monster cam and 200+ shot every day for 2 years. When it finally came apart, it seems as if the rod stretched itself apart from rpm.... all rod bolts were intact.
Originally Posted by ls1muscle
I forsee 1-2 blown motors in the next couple of days
hahaha that **** made me laugh
I'm going to swap bolts as well when I get my ms4. Im not sure wether to go with ARP bolt or katech bolts
Originally Posted by 408 z28
someone said they changed the rod bolt design in late 2000. I have a 2000 TA and was wondering what month or whatever is considred to be a "late" model
Originally Posted by 408 z28
someone said they changed the rod bolt design in late 2000. I have a 2000 TA and was wondering what month or whatever is considred to be a "late" model
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,524
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From: Western Burbs of Detroit
I have 2000 FRC that I purchased in May 2000, what rod bolts do I have ?? The weaker ones or the upgraded ones ??'
How hard is it to upgrade rod bolts ?? Cost ??
How hard is it to upgrade rod bolts ?? Cost ??
