Ok, I'm trying to figure out what cam I want to go with in my 3rd Gen LS1 Formula conversion, and I keep running into the term "stock bottom end" in a lot of the posts when I search.

What exactly constitutes a "bottom end?"

 

"Bottom End" is just your rotating assembly - pistons, rods, and crankshaft. It usually comes up when deciding how much those factory parts will take before they fail. I'm not sure what the consenous is here, but I'd say 450 HP... but then some people are luckier than others

 

you can get alot more then 450rwhp on the stock bottom end, just depends on how you go about it. the 01-02 cars are a little better since they got upgraded rod bolts.

but ya, your right on the bottom end components; crank, rods, pistons, rings, bearings, ect.

top end refers to head and valvetrain.

 

Thanks, guys.

 

Bottom end can also refer to the bottom half or so of the power band or RPM range, which would include torque range, peak torque, etc... So if say a cam produces good power in the bottom end, it means it makes good power low in the RPM range.

 

I can see where Ferocity02 could infer that type of "bottom end" into my question, since I did say I kept seeing this while researching cams. However, it was the aforementioned rotating assembly that was the answer to what I was looking for.

Thanks,
Adam

 

I've been told that the crank and connecting rod have seen 600hp flywheel with upgraded rod-bolts. The pistons and rod-bolts are the weak-link from the factory.

 

so how much could a stock ls1 safely take and still last a while??

 

Don't believe there's any definite answer to that. I think I've read about someone in the 9's on stock bottom end . Soooo...in saying that, it only reaffirms the uncertainty of how far you can take it with the stock pieces.

Justin