Bastler

Hi,
Bottom end:
i have a not matching number engine for my 442. Itīs a 396021 Fa with a 397363 plain iron crankshaft.
I already have high compression pistons but stock connecting rods.
Do you think performance connecting rods make sense?
Top end:
I have no heads for the car, what do you think of the edelbrock power package? (https://www.summitracing.com/int/par...ake/oldsmobile)
Also i have a W30 intake manifold and a w30 carburator.
The target is to have a powerful 400+ hp engine.

I drive a th400 transmission with a 12 bolt rear end.

Thanks for advise.

cutlassefi

What pistons do you have? You mention you want 400+hp, do you want 401hp or 450hp?
I wouldn't run stock rods in anything that makes over 100hp. Just sayin.

oldsmobiledave

Mark there's must be a typo in you post. In your opinion what is the hp limit of stock rods? Did you mean 500 hp?

Thanks

wr1970

Yeah i think there is a typo. I have been deep 11's with stock soft rods. I wouldn't go past 500 hp on stock rods. JMO

oldsmobiledave

Agreed. I went 11.6 @ 115 mph at 4000' elevation with a stock rod, C head, 0.040" over 455 in my 72 442 when it was still a street car. That engine dyno'd @ 485 hp and 523 TQ. I felt 500 hp was likely the limit of the factory rod. Others can chime in with their experience.

Bastler

Hi,
everything about 400 hp is ok for me. I don't know how much compression the pistons have, i have to look at it. In my mind i think they have 10,5:1, which rods are ok? What do you think about the quadrajet and the rest of the plan?

oldsmobiledave

You need to know many things to calculate compression including head cc and cylinder head gasket thickness. The pistons alone don't dictate compression. You probably have way less compression than you think you have.

Bastler

I found some connecting rods:
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/esp-6735o3d-1

And this pistons:
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/uem-kb277ktm-060

I have read an article about building a 455cui enigne, they used this pistons.
For the head gasket thickness i have to know how much material goes off by overhaul the block.

cutlassefi

No typo, I was being sarcastic. I know there are lots of guys making decent power with stock rods, I just wouldn't do it. It doesn't make sense to me to use the stock rods. The aftermarket ones aren't that expensive and are ten times stronger than the stock stuff. Plus they're even lighter.

oldsmobiledave

So in your opinion what is the hp limit of the factory rod for someone that insists on using them? I understand that you don't recommend them.

cutlassefi

That's a good question, and one I don't want to find out about anytime soon.
I did two engine years ago with stock rods, never again.
I've been doing a bunch of 442 and 442/W30 stuff lately. most are making about 425hp and have the Eagle (now Scat) H beams in them as well as studded mains. Hp ratings are about the same as when they were stock. But now these are making significantly more torque (in the 550 range) and things flex more when you do that. I just put the better stuff in it and forget it.

Thanks.

madmax442

From what I've read 425-450 is probably it for something that needs to be reliable. Obviously there are tons of builds way over that amount but reliability goes way down! Factory Olds rods are like J heads in the performance arena! Junk!