Well guys after my heads and cam swap there is rod knock i guess its true if you have a engine with over 100000 miles on it rebuild it .
What kits would u guys suggest? has to be able to pass smog. i was thinking something forged so i could run some n20... or maybe a 383 stroker ... but it has to pass smog any ideas?

 

well, usually a forged, stroke, etc bottom end doesn't have to do much with passing smog. if you want to rev, buy a 355 kit or something. gm makes some forged cranks, and u can get scat rods for cheap. SRP makes good pistons to use as well. thats a pretty good budget build. go with something around 11:1 compression and pick a cam that will pass emissions...good luck at that.

 

im actually just put in the le2 heads and the le1 emmissions cam so i got my cam and head combo.... anyony have a good match... would the 355 be my best bet?

 

I think a 355 would be perfect for that setup. With that setup I don't think you need a full forged bottom end unless you plan on spraying a very large shot. a good budget buildup setup would be....a Eagle or Scat cast steel crank, Eagle or Scat I beam rods can be had for a very reasonable price...and plenty strong enough, and for pistons...you want a good forged one....I am using the Mahle Pro Pack piston and rings, andother good option would be the SRP pistons. I was going use the SRP's, but then I was informed that the Mahle's are very good, and they come coated...and thats a good thing. Also it would be a good idea to stud your 2 bolt mains while you are at it.

 

Since im spending all this (unplanned) money on it i was planning on spraying. But just wen i go to the track or want to toast a certain cobra around town.

 

Well, depending on the size of the shot...I would say that the buildup listed would hold a fairly large shot without sweating. What do you want to make for power NA...and what size shot on top of that?

 

the regular LE setups are made for 350's i believe. i thought you had to reqest for the LE383 setups and others

 

Were you having problems with the top end, or just wanted to upgrade ?
My Z has been sitting since mothers day, when it got hot on the expressway
and blew a head gasket. Mine is a '96 Z-28, auto trans. I've spent some
time pulling it apart, but even with all the time that has passed, it is not
very far apart. Big part is the weather here in Phoenix, right now it is
109 degrees. Sweat just starts poring off you.
Good luck on yours, post updates.

 

Yea same thinj i blew a head gasket then had the topened rebuilt with parts from lloyd and it went for a week then got rod knock today
So now i have to get a new bottem end. and that is what im trying to decied on . by the way the heads are le2s while the cam is an le1 emmisisons cam. Any suggestions.

 

Well what im looking for is to spray a 100-125 shot safley. the setup i have on top end is le2 heads, le1 emmsisions cam, 58mmtb, 30lb injectors, ported intake manifold, cai, tune by madz28, and shorty headers. So whats a good build up to handle that much n20 and be safe. my budget is important here so please try to take into consideration... my plan if the rods and the crankshaft are not damaged is to have the crank turned ( i think i spun a bearing), ARP bolts throughout the entire engine, bore it .30 over, and a forged piston with the same compression as stock or a little higher. Any other ideas. This way looks to be a safe route and be affordable... you guys think i should get forged rods? or should i be fine with the stockers?

 

That is virtually the same thing I said. I don't believe it is worth the money and work invoved to reuse the stock rods again when you can buy eagle or Scat I beams in the length you choose for less than $200 online, and they come with ARP bolts already installed. I good forged piston is what was mentioned, i just got the Mahle's I ordered in and they are VERY nice. You can reuse the stock crank or run a Eagle or Scat cast steel crank, both options are relatively cheap, and will hold a good sized shot. I am doing almost the same buildup as we speak, and will be spraying 150 shot on top. As far as I am concerned this is about the most budget oriented build you can get, and quite strong too. I know I wouldn't do any less than what was mentioned for a high performance build.

 

Try ebay....I don't know about a 355 rotating assembly but you can get a more than adequate 383 set up for $1500.