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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 06:54 AM
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Default Scat Rods Power Level

The LC9 5.3L short block I picked up had aftermarket rods and pistons. Not looking to reuse the pistons, one because they won't after the block is bored and two they are just aftermarket replacements which are hypereutectic. I am looking at around 700 flywheel HP, so now that I have identified rods I would like to know the strength of the rods. They are forged Scat Rods, Summit PN 2-ICR6100-944. If they are rated for 700 hp as suggested that is right on the threshold and I will go with something a little stronger. Perhaps rated for a 1000 just to be safe. These rods are actually less expensive then the stock rods from GM.

This isn't a budget build or anything, but I don't want components that are made to support 1200 or 1500 hp. The plan with this build is to use forced induction and if I were looking at a lower power level the turbo wouldn't be necessary.

Thanks.
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 10:53 AM
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The stock rods that came out of the LC9 hold well over 700hp, if SCAT rods can't hold more than that they are junk. If your goal is 700 crank (or even 900) get a set of Gen 4 rods and pistons for $300 or less shipped and rock on. Don't get hung up on hypereutectic, you'll bend a stock rod at 1000+whp before you hurt the pistons assuming your tuner has a clue.
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by SLOW SEDAN
The stock rods that came out of the LC9 hold well over 700hp, if SCAT rods can't hold more than that they are junk. If your goal is 700 crank (or even 900) get a set of Gen 4 rods and pistons for $300 or less shipped and rock on. Don't get hung up on hypereutectic, you'll bend a stock rod at 1000+whp before you hurt the pistons assuming your tuner has a clue.
Yes, Gen4 rods do get used in high hp motors but they have drawbacks, they’re heavy 649 grams, their fasteners are small (8mm) and they’re powdered metal, they’re rarely round (true) when torqued up so reconditioning is in order requiring special oversized bearings. Get the Scat, they’ll be forged 4340, beefy 7/16 ARP fasteners, dowelled, lighter, about 600 grams, sized to perfection and ready to use. I used recon Gen 4 rods in a 347 project a few years ago and had one let loose at 7100rpm and it destroyed the motor from the head gaskets down, it sheered both rod bolts at the parting line and oiled the track.
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by 64post
Yes, Gen4 rods do get used in high hp motors but they have drawbacks, they’re heavy 649 grams, their fasteners are small (8mm) and they’re powdered metal, they’re rarely round (true) when torqued up so reconditioning is in order requiring special oversized bearings. Get the Scat, they’ll be forged 4340, beefy 7/16 ARP fasteners, dowelled, lighter, about 600 grams, sized to perfection and ready to use. I used recon Gen 4 rods in a 347 project a few years ago and had one let loose at 7100rpm and it destroyed the motor from the head gaskets down, it sheered both rod bolts at the parting line and oiled the track.
Your experience differs from mine, my stock rods have seen 8000 RPM and 35 PSI, some guys have pushed them even further. Curious what other factors played into your failure because even when I tried I couldn't get one to fail in that spectacular fashion. I barely bent one after 18 months of abuse, it still ran fine, oil pressure good, etc, I just noticed it on a winter tear down that it was tweaked so I slapped another one in and kept giving it hell. Haven't messed up another since.

If I were to spend money on rods I wouldn't buy SCAT, but that's just me. I've also never been concerned with rod weight as it really doesn't matter on these engines under 8500RPM, above that I would go with an aluminum rod but even they are often over 600g.
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by John Mugabi
The LC9 5.3L short block I picked up had aftermarket rods and pistons.

Thanks.

I think the rods he's asking about came with the short block he bought. I think he's just wondering if they're adequate.

And in my opinion, yes, they are.
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by CattleAc
I think the rods he's asking about came with the short block he bought. I think he's just wondering if they're adequate.

And in my opinion, yes, they are.
Agree. I put a set in my Son’s LS1. I have 14 Gen 4 rods, was going to use those until I measured the big ends. All came from turbo motors. Only 2 in spec for roundness. Not to mention the weight makes balancing difficult if you have a crank balanced for gen 3 rods.

Scats a nice rod. My engine builder even liked them, and he don’t like much.
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by RonSSNova

Scats a nice rod. My engine builder even liked them, and he don’t like much.
Funny, mine said that too...


That being said.... his rods are the 6.100" length, I've never searched for forged pistons for anything but 6.125" rods. But I don't think the selection's near as good for those 6.100"s.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 05:26 AM
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Originally Posted by CattleAc
I think the rods he's asking about came with the short block he bought. I think he's just wondering if they're adequate.

And in my opinion, yes, they are.
Thanks for the feedback, however due to the rod length I might not be able to find a suitable piston.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by SLOW SEDAN
Your experience differs from mine, my stock rods have seen 8000 RPM and 35 PSI, some guys have pushed them even further. Curious what other factors played into your failure because even when I tried I couldn't get one to fail in that spectacular fashion. I barely bent one after 18 months of abuse, it still ran fine, oil pressure good, etc, I just noticed it on a winter tear down that it was tweaked so I slapped another one in and kept giving it hell. Haven't messed up another since.

If I were to spend money on rods I wouldn't buy SCAT, but that's just me. I've also never been concerned with rod weight as it really doesn't matter on these engines under 8500RPM, above that I would go with an aluminum rod but even they are often over 600g.
Well, I guess you’re just special. Not all rods are 600 plus grams, I have a set of Scat 6.125s that are 570 grams, they are not aluminum, Eagle and Molnar make them lighter than that. Lighter helps at all RPM except idle. Would rather use a solid piece of wood or particle board when building something structural?
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 08:42 AM
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Summit has them in the Pro LS section.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by 64post
Well, I guess you’re just special. Not all rods are 600 plus grams, I have a set of Scat 6.125s that are 570 grams, they are not aluminum, Eagle and Molnar make them lighter than that. Lighter helps at all RPM except idle. Would rather use a solid piece of wood or particle board when building something structural?
Not special at all. Its worked for hundreds of people, been multiple articles written about it and a ton of attention paid to SBE records. How much power have you made on those aftermarket lightweight rods? I've used the Molnar rods before and they were over 600g. Summit and Jegs list the SCAT 6.125 rods at 610g, perhaps they are incorrect? Another thread from a member that weighed the SCAT rods came in at 614g: https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...5-6-100-a.html
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by SLOW SEDAN
Not special at all. Its worked for hundreds of people, been multiple articles written about it and a ton of attention paid to SBE records. How much power have you made on those aftermarket lightweight rods? I've used the Molnar rods before and they were over 600g. Summit and Jegs list the SCAT 6.125 rods at 610g, perhaps they are incorrect? Another thread from a member that weighed the SCAT rods came in at 614g: https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...5-6-100-a.html
Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean it’s not so….. Scat makes at least 3 types of rods for LS motors, their I beam is now down to 600 (598 actually) grams, their Standard H beam is over 635 grams and their Q- Lite H beams are 570 grams, Molnar does make a set lighter than that as does Eagle.specialties. Sir, I build motor after motor, I’m very conscious of weights of internal rotating pieces, I weigh everything, do I need to post a pic of a new Scat I beam on a gram scale to prove you wrong? Summit claims many CC volumes of GM heads that are not correct, as well, the interweb doesn’t have to substantiate anything you’ve read. You may have forgot the OP was talking about stock rods vs steel rods and I say aftermarket steel rods for the win.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by 64post
Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean it’s not so….. Scat makes at least 3 types of rods for LS motors, their I beam is now down to 600 (598 actually) grams, their Standard H beam is over 635 grams and their Q- Lite H beams are 570 grams, Molnar does make a set lighter than that as does Eagle.specialties. Sir, I build motor after motor, I’m very conscious of weights of internal rotating pieces, I weigh everything, do I need to post a pic of a new Scat I beam on a gram scale to prove you wrong? Summit claims many CC volumes of GM heads that are not correct, as well, the interweb doesn’t have to substantiate anything you’ve read. You may have forgot the OP was talking about stock rods vs steel rods and I say aftermarket steel rods for the win.
You can use your scale all day long but you also blew up an engine on baby power, so I'm not sure what to think. Do you have to keep building motor after motor because you blow them all up? So what power did you make on these lightweight aftermarket rods, since you skipped that. I honestly don't care what any of it weighs if it makes power and revs higher than your lightweight stuff.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 11:13 AM
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I've been 7600 RPM on gen 3 rods and 8100 on gen 4 rods. Stock pistons on both, both with boost.
I can't imagine that any forged aftermarket rod that weighs less and has better fasteners is going to be worse than the OEM rods.
A rating isn't a limit. Parts are typically given ratings that are within the range of what will prevent them from eventually suffering failure from fatigue life.
A rod rated to 700 HP should be able to handle 700 HP indefinitely under ideal circumstances. That doesn't mean it can't handle twice that.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by AwesomeAuto
I've been 7600 RPM on gen 3 rods and 8100 on gen 4 rods. Stock pistons on both, both with boost.
I can't imagine that any forged aftermarket rod that weighs less and has better fasteners is going to be worse than the OEM rods.
A rating isn't a limit. Parts are typically given ratings that are within the range of what will prevent them from eventually suffering failure from fatigue life.
A rod rated to 700 HP should be able to handle 700 HP indefinitely under ideal circumstances. That doesn't mean it can't handle twice that.
I skipped Gen 3 rods, but Gen 4 rods have seen hell! Honestly on the low side of 1000hp I don't know how anyone messes them up.

In theory an offshore lightweight rod has potential to be worse than stock. A few brands did not recommend their lightweight stuff be used for what I was intending for multiple reasons, even though a stock rod already survived it.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 12:12 PM
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You have to wonder what the reason is, for so-called high performance rods that can't exceed OEM capabilities, to even exist.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by G Atsma
You have to wonder what the reason is, for so-called high performance rods that can't exceed OEM capabilities, to even exist.
Small block chevy guys that are used to replacing every single OEM part other than the block (and sometimes the block) to make 400-500 HP.
I frequent corvetteforums in the C4 sections because I technically own one. Some of the stuff I see there is absolutely absurd.
They have no problem spending $8-10k on a 425 hp 383 and absolutely refuse to believe an LS engine can make more than that without forged everything.

They argue about absolutely everything that seems derogatory to their cars in any way, refuse to believe the C4 isn't the best car in existence, and scoff at any logical comparison to another car you try to give them.
Some of those guys have their head so far up Nostalgia's a** that they refuse to believe anything that wasn't common knowledge in 1988.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by AwesomeAuto
Small block chevy guys that are used to replacing every single OEM part other than the block (and sometimes the block) to make 400-500 HP.
I frequent corvetteforums in the C4 sections because I technically own one. Some of the stuff I see there is absolutely absurd.
They have no problem spending $8-10k on a 425 hp 383 and absolutely refuse to believe an LS engine can make more than that without forged everything.

They argue about absolutely everything that seems derogatory to their cars in any way, refuse to believe the C4 isn't the best car in existence, and scoff at any logical comparison to another car you try to give them.
Some of those guys have their head so far up Nostalgia's a** that they refuse to believe anything that wasn't common knowledge in 1988.
So true!! I had a C4 a long time ago, nothing has changed since.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by G Atsma
You have to wonder what the reason is, for so-called high performance rods that can't exceed OEM capabilities, to even exist.
It's not limited to rods, people buy parts they don't need all the time, I call them Cars and Coffee scene points.
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Old Jan 6, 2022 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by AwesomeAuto
I've been 7600 RPM on gen 3 rods and 8100 on gen 4 rods. Stock pistons on both, both with boost.
I can't imagine that any forged aftermarket rod that weighs less and has better fasteners is going to be worse than the OEM rods.
A rating isn't a limit. Parts are typically given ratings that are within the range of what will prevent them from eventually suffering failure from fatigue life.
A rod rated to 700 HP should be able to handle 700 HP indefinitely under ideal circumstances. That doesn't mean it can't handle twice that.
HP is a weird rating for sure
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