LE2 Top end, do I need to refresh bottom end?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
Yeah, I've been in touch witl Lloyd, and he suggests a few things (budget allowing) Pistons, ARP rod bolts installed in stock rods, fresh boring, bearings, rungs, etc..
But didn't say they're mandatory... I'll see what the budget is like after our move (moving to the west coast in Sept.) and roll from there. Might have to put the build off for another year or so to afford the boring, and rotating assembly goodies.
But didn't say they're mandatory... I'll see what the budget is like after our move (moving to the west coast in Sept.) and roll from there. Might have to put the build off for another year or so to afford the boring, and rotating assembly goodies.
If its a weekend car i would say your in good shape and wouldnt worry about the bottom end. If your dd'ing the car i would definetly think to upgrade it. I put a hotcam kit on our 95 with a 175,000kms on it and going with an AFR head and LE cam combo on my 94 with 351,000kms. If the motor hasnt given you issues and is running strong it will go for a long time. I have no doubt my car won't last 50,000km but im also prepared to a do a bottom end build in a year or two when she lets go. Its a weekend car that might hit the track once or twice a year so im in the same boat as you.
I say Giver!
I say Giver!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
351,000 Km, and it's still running well? Unreal! Yeah, with the limited amount of driving the car gets, I think I'll just stick with the top end for now. If it blows up, it blows up, just an excuse to pull it all out, and make it truly bad-***!
Well 351,000km is about 215,000+ miles or so without doing the conversion. Im just showing kms cause looks like hes canadian aswell. One previous owner before me and was always maintained. Just goes to show its well taken care of it will last forevor. I got it 323,000 and was an A4 i then converted it to M6 and lets just say i stretch her legs often and hasnt given me a problem interally. A tune up later and she runs even better! Just make sure you have it TUNED properly after the swap and you'll fine.
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: LEXINGTON, KY
If you have good oil pressure and no blow-by you may be OK upgrading the top end. One thing to consider is that you are going to be adding a substantial amount of power to a bottom end that has used up 50-75% of its life. If you have the money to do everything at once you may be more satisfied with your results. Your cast stock crankshaft is much better than a Chinese cast crank. If you are going to rebuild the bottom end be sure to do it right and not take the cheap way out. You get what you pay for especially in performance parts. A strong bottom end is the foundation to reliable horsepower. A cast crankshaft is reliable up to 450-500 crankshaft horsepower. Beyond that it is not a question of "Will it break?", it is a question of "When will it break?" I prefer using Callies Comp Star or Scat forged rotating assemblies for strong street applications up to 750HP. They are forged in China and finish machined here in the U.S.
Chad Kennedy
Kennedy Performance, LLC
146 S. Forbes Rd. - Ste. 110
Lexington, Ky 40511
(859)258-9131
www.kennedyperformance.com
Chad Kennedy
Kennedy Performance, LLC
146 S. Forbes Rd. - Ste. 110
Lexington, Ky 40511
(859)258-9131
www.kennedyperformance.com
I'm sure many have had good luck with the eagle forged cranks, but I see no reason to run them when you can get a Lunati Sledgehammer for $700 or less and a Callies Dragonslayer for $900 or less (I only looked at thunderracing, you could probably find one for under $800 if you looked).
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355 is not a stroker you only are boring it out .030 not increasing the stroke
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
If its a weekend car i would say your in good shape and wouldnt worry about the bottom end. If your dd'ing the car i would definetly think to upgrade it. I put a hotcam kit on our 95 with a 175,000kms on it and going with an AFR head and LE cam combo on my 94 with 351,000kms. If the motor hasnt given you issues and is running strong it will go for a long time. I have no doubt my car won't last 50,000km but im also prepared to a do a bottom end build in a year or two when she lets go. Its a weekend car that might hit the track once or twice a year so im in the same boat as you.
I say Giver!
I say Giver!
On The Tree
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: N.E. PA
you hear about failures all the time of after market units no matter the brand, but very rarely to you hear about a stock piece failing.
replace the chain and both sprokets from a gm dealer or a place like gmpartsdirect
Do not use GMPARTSDIRECT!!! Certified Ripoff artists and the worst customer service of any company I have ever dealt with
PLUS when you factor in how they RAPE YOU ON SHIPPING you can get the same thing from summit for cheaper.
PLUS when you factor in how they RAPE YOU ON SHIPPING you can get the same thing from summit for cheaper.
If it was me, I would refresh the bottom end, but I am also the guy who is worried that my car will break a lot when it likely won't. All goes back to your budget
On The Tree
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: N.E. PA
personally i always deal with the local chevy dealer but that is because the dealership i work for gets parts cheap
I just use summit but there are a few other decent ones. If it was something I couldn't get from summit I would use scoggin dickey
