Fallen2603

Okay, these questions will probably cause a ****-storm of controversy, but I have to ask it:

How much power will the 3.4L V6 engine block take before cracking? I've heard some conjecture that the power limit on this block has more to do with RPM than actual power. I'm not planning on revving my turbocharged 3.4L V6 past 7,250RPM (I'll probably have a fuel/spark-cut at 7,500), so does that mean I might be able to push a bit more power than the 400HP/450LB-FT limits I've been told before?

project89

iTrader: (1)

honestly nobody knows for sure.
not enough ppl have made that much power to be able to know when things will break.
we can quess all we want but its not liek 100 ppl make enough power to crack the blocks and we can say well each of these motors made x amount of power before it broke

throw some arp studs in it line hone and make sure the rotating assembly is well balanced and give it hell

Project 3.4 Camaro

stock limit is 7k btw, thats the max the rods are rated for, you can probably get away going to 7.5k briefly but I'm not sure of it, I wouldn't spend much time past 7k though, but also arp connecting rod bolts might increase that I'm not sure if the rods themselves break past 7k or the bolts holding them together do..All that being said, what you said is correct, in midget racing and such or whatever its called they use the 60/6 a bit and I've heard that its prone to cracking at the lifter valley after a couple of seasons of extended rpm usage, powerwise, like project89 says, no one really knows tbh, I plan to build one up to 650 hp if and when I ever have the money, bout a 3rd of the way there atm. But we've seen #s over 400, though I have yet to see anything over 500.

Fallen2603

I do plan on having the entire rotating assembly balanced. I'll have to have it rebalanced, anyhow, after all the work that'll be done to the forged 3500 crank.

I have heard of others revving their 660 faster than 7,500RPM with the stock rods without an issue, but that could be hearsay...

Can I use these in the 3.4L V6?
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ARP-133-6002/
I know they say they're for the 2.8L, but I know there is a lot similar between the 2.8L and 3.4L.

Also, does anyone know where I could find some stronger main-cap fasteners, preferably studs?

Project 3.4 Camaro

I'm fairly certain all RWD platforms can interchange rods, I believe they are all 5.7" length and match up to the crank and pistons the same, so in theory yes.
As for the studs, ARP, summit might not list them, but I assure you ARP makes them, try checking WOT tech, jegs, ARP's site or ebay.
Btw if youre going to the trouble of a forged 3500 crank, you should know that SBC rods can work in our 660s with a bit of modification to the crank or rods(can be done either way) also if you have the cash to blow...the ultimate in conrods is titanium, I drool just thinking about it.....strong as **** and lower the rotating mass a good bit=more power and strength....they're expensive tho......someday
What's your power goal, and how much of this planned setup do you have already, including car for that matter? Would love to watch your progress and let someone with more money than me forge the path into the unexplored :P
And btw, I honestly have no clue if this is viable or not, but 3x00 have webbed lifter valleys I've wondered in the past if its at all possible to reinforce our blocks similarly.

project89

iTrader: (1)

the rods break on the big ends were they are machined for the bolts. the cut they did is a square cut i.e 90* into the material this causes a weak point. had the cut been radiuses the big end of the rod would have been much stronger.

rpm,power level,pistion wieght,rodwieght, all play a part in how much a rod can take

take a sbc rod it can be rated to 7k rpms and 650 hp put lightwieght pistons on it and u can get some more rpm out of it safley.

also slow down the rpms, say spin it to 6k roms and they will hold more power.

rpm is mainly the key but everything else does influnce the rod strenght

Project 3.4 Camaro

What's the context of that? are you talking about machining SBC rods for 660 crank?

bl85c

iTrader: (2)

My 1-2 shift is at 7k and I'm doing just fine so far. 2-3 is 6500 but I probably won't even see 3rd by the end of the track lol.

Project 3.4 Camaro

bl85c, you running the hybrid down the drag strip? Whats that thing running if so?

project89

iTrader: (1)

no talking about the stock rods thats the reason they break

bl85c

iTrader: (2)

Not yet, but it will have it's maiden voyage tonight. Stuck with the stock cam for now though while delta fixes their regrind.

Project 3.4 Camaro

weeaaaak, whats wrong with the reground cam? Or is their machine for regrinding them down and you're waiting to buy one? And PM me the time slip resulsts ASAP please

I'm hoping low 14s! namely 14.2 or better, that will mean I can beat my buddy's mustang gt with a hybrid,lol. On iron heads I know he'll win less he messes up a shift bad enough, which is def possible, hes not very good at speedshifting.

Fallen2603

Okay, I'll have to compare the rod bolts out of the 3.4L V6, when I buy it, to the rod bolts out of the 2.8 that I already have...
I checked ARP's online catalog, and I didn't see any main-studs listed. Will the 3x00 main studs off of WOT-Tech work in the RWD 3.4L? I'd assume so, but not sure... Oh, will that crank-scraper work, too?
Yes, I did know that SBC rods can be made to work with the 3500 crank by having the "big-end" narrowed to fit in the narrower rod-journal. LOL! Yeah, I'd LOOOVE to have titanium connecting rods...hell, I'd love to have titanium EVERYTHING, but...I ain't made of money...UNFORTUNATELY.
I'm hoping to make at least 400RWHP and 450LB-FT with an iron-headed, the heads ported within an inch of their lives, 3.4L V6 with a remote-mount-turbocharged setup. I don't have anything right now. Project89 is working on a set of his "Race-Port" cylinder-heads for me, and I should be able to afford the 3.4L V6 in a month or so.
LOL! Yeah, I'll be sure to post all my progress, as I make it, when I start up.

Fallen2603

Oh, I do have the car...LOL! It's a '90 Camaro RS, originally 305 TBI. It was an Alabama car, so, THANKFULLY, no rust. I think I have some pictures of it in my album in my TGO profile...

Project 3.4 Camaro

You should be able to hit those levels with probably 12 psi of boost. Eventually if I don't wind up going the lsx route I am going to go hybrid with titanium valves and conrods, forged 3500 crank, forged aluminum pistons and of course porting, stiff valve springs, and full roller aluminum rockers. probably like 5-7k right there....

Project 3.4 Camaro

lucky....i recently found out I don't have a driver side floor pan -_-

bl85c

iTrader: (2)

They gave me the wrong amount of duration and lift. Not by much individually, but together that gave me the wrong amount of valve in piston. Thankfully nothing bent, just scuffed pistons. Makes me feel like a chump for not checking beforehand.

Fallen2603

Yeah, 10-15psi of boost, with the right amount of airflow, should get me into those numbers if everything else holds together...HOPEFULLY.
All that for only $5,000-7,000? That estimate seems kinda low...

Project 3.4 Camaro

heads are $1500, valves I can't remember or find them atm, but I think they're like $250, conrods I believe are like 3k or so, rockers $350 I think, pistons about $500, crank I don't know of any companies making new ones, so a used one probably $100-300, maybe another k or so in machine work on the block to bore it out .010 and cote it, and balance the rotating assembly, but shouldn't be more than 8k at very most. And tbh, I doubt more than 7k.

Fallen2603

The pistons, especially if you're going with forged slugs, will probably cost a bit more than $500. I have price inquiries out right now, so I'll let you know what Ross and Probe say about that...
Not really sure how necessary the titanium connecting rods are, but...to each their own.
Is this price estimate for a 3.x/3x00 hybrid?

Project 3.4 Camaro

Well if your intent is to build the most badass 660 around its necessary...strength is only half the benefit, they weigh probably less than half what steel ones do, which means less rotational weight to suck away power, leaving more to make it to the wheels. And wot tech has them for $500 or so, no need to get custom made ones.

Fallen2603

I understand the benefits of going with titanium. Just not in my price-range. I'm not looking to build "the most badass 660 around"...just something fun for the street that will still STOMP some lightly modified V8 cars...especially Mustangs...

Yeah, the pistons on WOT-Tech all go for about $575, but they won't do me any good because they're meant for 3x00 motors...or 3.x/3x00 hybrid motors.