Q weak engine rods?

[kahukub]

Hi everyone

Well I've been doing lots of research on the subject rods and pistons on our engine, but it still bugs me that even with a safe tune it seems like its walking on thin ice. Have you guys had any problems pushing your stock engine? The reason I ask is because I'm jumping straight into a stage 6 port, 6# pulley, SCT MAF 2600, and hopefully a dead on tune. Wish me luck I would hate to blow a 30,000 mile motor.

 

[lightningmanny]

have fun with it....6lb lower/intake/tune/ftvb ....then start saving for the block and kenne bell

 

[Jroc]

Hey gents

So ive been doing lots of research and i figured id ask this question because i couldnt find a direct answer. is it worth spending the money to max out your stock engine with bolt on mods or should i let my truck suffer for a very long time while i build the engine. i know its a better bang for the buck, Porting, MAF, Tunned, Etc etc but im more worried about the long run. have you guys had any problems? My baby is still a virgin with 30,000 miles on it and i would hate to send a rod through the block

Which is exactly why my motor is still stock. I did power mods to my Terminator as I wasn't worried about venting a block with it. With my L I can't afford to have my DD go down for an extended period of time.

I guess your question kind of depends on the person. IMO a smartly modded stock motor L with a "GOOD TUNE" should be able to handle 430-450 whp if you don't constantly beat it to death. A 430-450 whp L(which I don't obviously don't have but I have ridden in them) is a very entertaining truck. Obviously they aren't the fastest thing on the road, but a L is never going to be the fastest thing on the road regardless, and if you do all the typical stock longblock mods you will have a very strong pulling truck capable of low 12's and maybe less if you start getting into weight reduction, slicks/skinnies, etc.

Still if you want peace of mind, and you can afford it, and you want to make some real power with a L then built is the way to go. I would love to go with a high compression,(when talking boosted apps) all aluminum 5.4 using ported TFS heads, custom ground cams, a 2013 GT500 TVS 2300, etc, etc, but these things cost moneys.

 

[kahukub]

Jroc, whitltng

You make a good point, I guess I kinda lost the view of having fun verses stressing on the engine ;-)

 

[Robert Francis]

You'll find that if you do any research you won't find any particular problems with the rods on a "stock" Lightning engine as you also won't on most "stock" engines

But once you start modifying any engine and adjusting it's "tune" - all bets are off and you're on your own.