I have a 03 with the pmrs. What is the best way to fix this weak link. Do they make aftermarket rods, if so where is the best place to get them. Are stock 99-01 rods a good replacement? How hard are these to replace? If i replace the rods is the rest of the engine good to go when i start adding more hp. thanks

 

Depends on how far you want to go. You can go with stock replacment fordged rods for cheap and put down some decent power on those. If you want huge numbers, you can check with DI and their Crower rods. Those should be able to take some massive punishment.

 

if you want rods that can take unlimited HP, then billet aluminum rods are what you want. if you plan on up to 550hp, then stock forged cryoed rods will suffice. i have a set of stock forged rods from a '99 in a box in the shop. i am sitting on them, still undecided if i want to go ***** to the wall on a motor build, or just a mild 500hp build. if the price is right, ill sell my stock forged rods to you.

 

DI has crowers listed for 2700, and reconditions stocked forged rods for 480

WOP has cunninghams listed for 3400, and they also have hypermax rods listed at 1760

Once agian it comes down to how big hp do you want to go. If it were me I would call DI and tell them your goals and plans, they will set you up and give for sure prices. As far as the rest of the engine, if your going bigger on the hp, when your replacing rods you might as well beef up the rest of the engine too.

 

By "beef up the rest of the engine" what other parts do you mean? I haven't read much about replacing other parts besides the pmrs. What are the other parts that should be replaced? I don't know how far i want to go with the hp but if i am going to replace them i pobally want to do it right incase it ends up monster hp. Although under 500 for stock forged rods sounds alot better than 2000. thanks. What are the web sites for di and wop?

 

WOP - http://www.wideopenperformance.net/Products.aspx?ID=1

DI - http://www.diperformance.com/
- http://www.dieselinnovations.com/di.php

Head gaskets start to become a problem when adding the power so you'd want to beef those up to w/ some head studs and a fire ring kit. But ya like everyone was saying, how far do you want to take this? $$$$$$$$

 

i bought my billet rods from wipeoutenterprises.com. I would strongly suggest anything over 500 you go with billet rods. Its been proven numerous times that much over 500hp tends to bend forged rods.

 

lukecline...Thanks for the advice. I might as well just spend the money and get billet rods so if the hp starts to go over 500 i won't have to spend more money on another set of rods.

 

Besides the head gaskets and head studs, what else would you reccomend while you're in there. I'd like to replace my PMR's with forged rods some day, so I figure might as well do a few other things while the engines apart. How difficult is it to change the rods anyway??

 

Well it's just like any other engine, you need to pull the engine and completely remove the heads, oil pan, pickup tube assy, rods and pistons. While you are in there i would get ceramic coated Mahle pistons, the rods, Polydyn coated rod and main bearings, main studs and a main girdle. Basically indestructible bottom end.

 

I dont think you need all the fancy coatings or a girdle just to handle forged rods. Main studs and a good balance job wouldnt hurt though. Also it might not be a bad idea to upgrade the valve springs and push rods. Comp Cams makes a nice drop in replacement spring and so far (18k miles) seems to be working well. There are numerous places to get chromoly pushrods from, i got mine from wipeout enterprises.

 

we sell the wipe out rods and i also have the drop in springs from comp cams. As luke has said if you are going for any big # 500-550 plus then th estock forged wont hold. even when heat treated and shot pean they still arenot the best chioce for higher hp's.