My rings are worn out and i dont have enough to rebuild the whole bottom end, so i can only get the piston and the rings from howell and install them for free at a friends shop. I also plan on getting the oil pump. I know i am close to bein able to rebuild, but then i will have to pay $900 to install and i don't have too much money to play with, kids and my wife take all my money. Now my question is, can i run higher boost since i have 30lb injectors and i have no fuel problems. I am not talking about 17-18psi, just around 12-14psi, like on race gas or 93 octane. If this has been discussed , just point me to the link. Thanks

You should be fine. From what I've heard our stock rods are good up to 15 psi if I remember right.

~350 crank is all the stock rods will take. Sure, you can do it, but keep that in mind.

Thanks, i will keep that in mind, i doubt i will get that high anyway since i am not going to be boosting over 14psi, and that is mostly at the track on race gas.

I've been running 19psi on stock rods now for about 8 months... covered over 15,000 miles on the motor with no problems in the rod department...

wow...for someone on a low budget (me)...maybe it's be a good route to just buy myself some JE pistons...and throw those in and run 11 - 12psi... stock rods can handle it...tranny can handle it...clutch can handle it (I think)....anything else youd need besides more fuel pressure?

Bigger injectors...
Bigger balls... :thumbsup

i ran 10-12psi w/ ocassional trips to 15psi w/ a lil homebrew racegas on completely stock internals for nearly 2 years, so dont see why you would have a problem (assuming you dont go lean).


Im never nice on the car either, so it took a beating for a long time before i cracked a stock piston ringland.

I think going ot all the trouble of dropping in forged pistons and not changing out the rods as well is dumb. Strengthened rods only cost about $300. I mean, maybe my time is more valuable than others, but given all the labor involved with such a project, I would hardly go to all of this trouble and not bother to change out the rods.

It's one thing to wait to put in a better clutch or not do any head work. But while you're doing the bottom end, which in my opinion is the most difficult part in your car to access, do it right the first time. Get a loan or something for the extra $300.

Originally posted by JasonESi_T
I think going ot all the trouble of dropping in forged pistons and not changing out the rods as well is dumb. Strengthened rods only cost about $300. I mean, maybe my time is more valuable than others, but given all the labor involved with such a project, I would hardly go to all of this trouble and not bother to change out the rods. It's one thing to wait to put in a better clutch or not do any head work. But while you're doing the bottom end, which in my opinion is the most difficult part in your car to access, do it right the first time. Get a loan or something for the extra $300.

Couldn't have said it any better :thumbsup So what happens when you want to turn up the boost and run more power? You going to take your motor out again and replace the rods? Go ahead and play with fire at 19 psi on stock rods :nuts

I was not aware the stock rods could handle 19psi for any amount of time.. Learn something new everday... Wasn't tommyboy bending rods at like any higher than 13psi with forged pistons??