reusing stock rod bolts for a rebuild?

[supraguru05]

i just finished assembling the short block of my turbo motor and am currently waiting on some parts. ive been reading some of the tech tips in the engine mechanical section and one of them mentioned never to reuse the stock rod bolts. on my last motor (which is still in a car and driving fine at 15000 miles) i reused the stock rods and bolts. but this turbo motor im trying to rebuild it really well and just assumed that because i was running stock rods that stock rod bolts would be ok. so im having second thoughts after reading the tech tips on here. do i need to rip the block back apart while im here and have arps installed or will i be ok. the engine will never see any turbo bigger than maybe a 57 wheel ct26. and if it matters this block when i tore it down had copper showing on the number 5 and 6 rod bearings

 

[NewWestSupras]

If you're going to all the trouble of rebuilding, ARP the rod bolts for peace of mind. It increases the tensile strength of the rods and thats apparently quite important.

 

[oscolivar1]

If you're going to all the trouble of rebuilding, ARP the rod bolts for peace of mind. It increases the tensile strength of the rods and thats apparently quite important.

^ agreed...I'd go for studs though. Studs are stronger and aren't that much compared to buying bolts so might as well spend a couple more $$$. Stock bolts are good as well, but there are more of a one time deal, once you put them in and TQ them they will lose it strength if you try to reuse them.

 

[starscream5000]

Go ahead and switch them to the ARP hardware .

 

[NewWestSupras]

I believe Oscolivar is referring to ARP head studs/bolts. I think there are only one type of ARP fastener bolts for the actual rods, the rods need to be machined to accomodate the new ARP fasteners, but they are supposedly quite a bit stronger than stock rod bolts.

 

[jdub]

^^^ That is correct. If you use ARP rod bolts, the rods will need to be re-sized.

 

[bigaaron]

Resize the rods and use ARP rod bolts, it's not very expensive and it's money well spent.

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

or you could just use factory rod bolts. they are perfectly fine.

 

[supraguru05]

way to ruin the landslide opinion cyro lol. well im just wondering if the piston rings and wrist pins will be ok if i take everything back apart to have the rods resized

btw i have arp head studs thats not a issue. i also ordered a new oil pump driveshaft and new bearings for it since i had everything apary

 

[Doward]

DO NOT REUSE STOCK ROD BOLTS!

They are stretch bolts, to the best of my knowledge. Certainly not a place you want to take a shortcut, and do things twice

 

[supraguru05]

just food for thought my current motor has two full years of autox and 15000 miles and has no knock issues with reused stock rods.

that being said im going to discuss the option with my dad of tearing the shortblock back apart :aigo:

 

[bigaaron]

way to ruin the landslide opinion cyro lol.

His opinion should be ignored. :biglaugh:

 

[starscream5000]

just food for thought my current motor has two full years of autox and 15000 miles and has no knock issues with reused stock rods.

that being said im going to discuss the option with my dad of tearing the shortblock back apart :aigo:

I see nothing wrong with this, but reused stock rod BOLTS are another story .

 

[supraguru05]

when i mean rods i mean the bolts that are stuck in the rods as well :biglaugh:

but everyones input is appreciated ill probably go ahead and do it the right way and rip everything back apart i just figured since i was doing everything else to spec something had to be done the cheap way to make me more of a mk3 owner lol

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

His opinion should be ignored. :biglaugh:

why haven't you pm'd me again? :icon_mad:

 

[7MsuprO]

Sorry for the hijack but this is kind of relevant. ARP rod studs can be re-used on a second build, correct?

 

[plaaya69]

not to get off topic but I have a quick question, when you guys say that"If you use ARP rod bolts, the rods will need to be re-sized" what do you mean by that and also how is that done? Thanks.

 

[bigaaron]

Since the rod bolts are pressed in, they will deform the large end of the rod making it slightly out of round. When you resize a rod it brings it back to factory specs for the i.d., and makes it purfectly round again. That must be done with the ARP bolts installed. The stock rods use bolts, either stock bolts or ARP bolts. Studs are threaded on both ends.

 

[Nick M]

If you are rebuilding the engine, you need to re-round the big end and straighten them anyway.

 

[ryanday]

Stock rod bolts are fine, as long as they haven't been stripped or damaged in any other way. STREACHING IS FINE! you people dont know what you are talking about. You could go arp or new bolts, but it would just we a waste of money, no benefit. A bolt is supposed to stretch.