Did you diagnose the problem?What broke.Was it a rod,rod bolt ,piston etc...
Just wondering what is the weakest link in the bottom end.
Thanks.
All depends on application. H/C high RPM change rod bolts/rods and if your going this far you may as well change the pistons. For FI up to 550-600 rwhp you need to run a really safe A/F ratio and timing as the piston ring lands can't take any rattling.
I bought one forged, but the prev owner cooked the factory block, not sure what happened.
It's called Hyperuetetic Alloy Pistons. The silica content makes them very brittle and the ring lands tend to snap like a cracker if you get any detonation....no room for errors with them at all.
About 7 years ago I found this out. It's really easy to tell when the pistons break...if the dipstick doesn't pop up and spray oil all over the place..you can do a compression test and the cylinders that come up 70-100 psi lower then the rest....are toast. I broke 4 piston ring lands.
For a bent rod I have only heard on at the track...it was knocking really loud.
Last edited by Shinobi'sZ; 01-21-2009 at 01:15 AM.
Didn't shred the bottom end, but tore the valvetrain apart. Cam gear ripped out of the camshaft, PTV contact on ALL ehxaust valves, bent six exhaust valves to the point of being stuck open. Number 7 was a little loose in the cylinder upon teardown but that's it.
I'm surprized no one has had a broken rod bolt or main cap even though sometimes it's hard to tell what went first.
I think earlier LS1's had some rod bolt failures until after the C5R effort exposed the weakness...trying to remember but I think there were some rod bolt factory fixes around the 2000 model year. But there has been people on here in the earlier days that experienced rod bolt failures.
Anyone blown a stock bottom end?
'98 LS1 Vette-Email 
