Powdered Metal LT1 rods

[TraceZ]

I'm in the process of a 383 buildup and was thinking about using a later set of LT1 5.7" powdered metal rods. I'm hoping my motor will make close to 475 flywheel horsepower naturally aspirated.

Will the powdred metal rods be durable enough? I'd like to use them because they are native to the LT1, and are inexpensive. There's gotta be people pushing 500 horses through the stock botom end?

The crank will be a new model by Eagle. Cast, but 33% stronger than stock. This will be in a 4-bolt block.

[TraceZ]

nevermind. I used the SEARCH feoture on camaroz28.com and found a old post from Injuneer (Fred)


Thanks fred.

The two cases of connecting rod failure that I have seen documented, at least for the LT1 PM rods, occured at approx 600HP. The factory rates them at 450HP, and claimed that was an upgrade from the "pinks". The LT1 engines were switched to the PM's during 1994 (Corvettes) and 1995 (F-bodys), from what I have read.

[Injuneer]

You might already have the PM rods. Since I wrote what was posted above, I went out into the pile of old parts in my garage, and found that my 94 had the PM rods. Apparently it was a running change during the 94 model year. My 94 is about 400 cars from the last 94 model year production number.

[TraceZ]

Yeah. I saw that. The thing is, I'm not going to tear apart my stock motor. It only has 58,000 miles on it, and runs great. I'm planning to sell it whole.

[Injuneer]

What are you doing for the new engine? You would probably need a complete "donor" motor. I bought a used bare block, and even after buying an all new rotating assembly, heads/intake, cam and valve train, water pump, Opti, etc there was a huge number of miscellaneous parts that I needed to scavenge from the old setup. What I managed to bring home in leftover parts from my original engine fit in a fairly small box.

[TraceZ]

The guy I bought the block from included the following:

4-bolt block, with main caps and bolts
Oil pan, with screw rails and fasteners
1994 Timing cover with fasteners
rear main seal ring with fasteners
water pump drive
distributor stub shaft with bolt
valve covers with fasteners
windage tray with fasteners

I am getting the following this weekend in trade for a set of salad shooters:

Water pump housing with Mezineir pump installed, barely used.
(I think I'm going to sell/trade the Mezineir assembly for a new stock one)
lifter retainer bracket with fasteners
cam retainer ring with fasteners

I will still need the following to complete the block

Oil pump drive rod
Optispark
intake manifold with fasteners
lifters with retainers
pushrods
oil pump with pickup welded on(I already have the bolt)

used heads to have ported/rebuilt

For the internals I'm going to get:

Eagle 3.750 cast crank for LT1. They say it is 33% stronger than stock
set of stock PM rods
Hyperutectic pistons
cam... dont know what kind yet
timing set
ARP main bolts
ARP head bolts
ARP rod bolts