I probably shouldn't have opened that can of worms. I think the hp difference between long and short rods is minimal. But with a blower, or especially nitrous I think anything you can do to limit peak cylinder pressure near TDC is useful for longevity, not for hp. Also maybe a trivial difference, but if (as I believe) the power comes out the same why not?

A high rpm NA motor should have a long rod. Again, not for hp. In this case, keeping the reciprocating weight down (longer rod = lighter piston greater than the increase in rod weight) will lower stress on the rods and rod bolts at high rpm and it may accelerate a little faster (in a car, not on the dyno).

Rich

 

Right now since funds are limited I rather go with longevity...

 

Might as well do it now instead of doing it twice.

You've never said what the bore size is of the Gen V block. 4.25 or 4.5(ish). Go big now and get a 4.500" bore block. A short deck block with a 4.250" stroke makes a 540 and will fit anywhere a smaller BBC will fit. The 540 can be bored out to a 565. Going bigger than that requires more stroke and a tall deck or a 5" bore spacing block which cause more problems fitting it into many cars. 572 and 632 are the next most common large sizes although they have engines even bigger than that which are technically Promod engines. I don't have the $70,000+ for a 700+ cubic inch engine that can make 1500 hp NA.

 

Well going with any other motor at this point is not gonna happen unless it just comes outta nowhere (school is taking ALL of my money) so I have to ease into it. The bore is 4.25 (454).

 

Easiest and cheapest way is to just put a 4.25 crank in there and hone the cylinders for a stock sized piston again if the cylinders haven't been pushed out too much. If you can afford it get at least a +.250 rod and you should be able to easily find a light off the shelf piston. Not sure how much is a big shot for you, for me 200 is a big shot, while for others 400+ is normal. I would think that anything less than 200 you can run a normal N/A piston. Anything larger and you would have to step up your piston/ring combination. Probably worth it to just get a nitrous piston in the first place as long as it gives you the compresson you want.

 

Yeah its gonna be a 200 shot for me. A standard bore coupled with a 4.25 stroke would give me 477ci? All of the cylinders in the block along with the crank and rods look extremely clean and if I wanted to just put the bottom end back together and drive it on the street, I could just get some higher compression pistons and use some closed chambered heads I have and call it a day. The cylinders dont even need to be honed.

 

Do it.

Rich

 

Agreed, if you have all the parts in good shape then use what you got and spend the money you have set aside on things that make horsepower like better heads.

 

I also have a 383 I thought about swinging in until I get the 454 done. And I also have a 402 block sitting around that I thought about throwing the 454 crank into but finding stroker pistons for this weird combination sucks. Im just all confused on what to do right now

 

Just run the 454 for now, it's an easy combo that will give you good power for very little investment.

 

Got ya, thanks for the help everybody

 

If you are putting new rings in, you will want to put a new hone on it. Two reasons: 1) Bust any glaze on the walls, 2) Your new rings won't seat properly with out it. Do it right the first time.

 

Thanks I will do that. I would hate to put it together and have those types of problems.