[b-man]

The extra couple hundred to go forged over rebuilt cast is worth it for peace of mind.

Personally I’ve run completely stock never rebuilt cast rods in 2 different 455 engines with no failures. One was a 400 hp 8.6:1 bracket race engine that shifted at 5200 and saw 5700 through the lights and sometimes 6000 during a burnout if I wasn’t careful. The other was a mild 8.2:1 daily driver 335 hp with all stock parts.

The bracket 455 had an untouched factory short block. The daily had forged TRW pistons but other than that all stock components including the 068 cam.

I was bucks down at the time I built both of those 455s.

My latest and probably last Pontiac V8 build has forged rods in it. Rebuilt cast rods would have more than sufficed in my mild 8.8:1 421 street cruiser engine with the 068 cam but I have enough funds available now to do a better bottom end build.

You’re in the middle of a nice build, this is one place that you should upgrade with forged parts.

[455rebel]

Thanks.
I don't need or want high rpm!
Ant looking for hellcats to tease!
Just off idle to 5200ish and shift
As it is now,it SHOCKS many passengers!
It's ugly, it's big (3700lbs).
It leaves a red light @ 1100 power brake rpm, and hooks and goes!
Just want a rebuild and another 50-100 hp,(TQ).
Don't want to stress drivetrain!
I'll consider the rods, but may go with stockers and a 5200 rev limiter!
Anyone know where to get a voodoo703, without 90 day ship?
And best budget gasket set?

[TransAm 474]

Originally Posted by 455rebel

Thanks.
I don't need or want high rpm!
Ant looking for hellcats to tease!
Just off idle to 5200ish and shift
As it is now,it SHOCKS many passengers!
It's ugly, it's big (3700lbs).
It leaves a red light @ 1100 power brake rpm, and hooks and goes!
Just want a rebuild and another 50-100 hp,(TQ).
Don't want to stress drivetrain!
I'll consider the rods, but may go with stockers and a 5200 rev limiter!
Anyone know where to get a voodoo703, without 90 day ship?
And best budget gasket set?

You can order it straight from the Lunati website, it shows they have the 703 "In Stock" at this time. I ordered a 704 off their website a year or so ago, and I had it in 3 days. If you don't want to order straight from Lunati, then I would call Butler Performance and see if they have the 703 In Stock, I think they usually try to keep the popular Voodoo's on hand. Jegs estimates the 703 would ship straight from the manufacturer on Monday if ordered through them. Tick Performance has about the best deal on it, if they could get you one fairly fast.

EDIT: The suggestions above are for the Camshaft only, not the Camshaft/Lifter kit

[455rebel]

Thanks.
I've already had a L lifter fail on a 702!
Replaced. With a 2802 and J lifters,no more problems.
It may be summers end before I can save enough for parts.
btw, the 702 and 2802 ran almost identical times?
But, the 702 feels stronger down low, and sounded lopper!

[track73]

This was a while back so things may have changed. I asked Nunzi about changing rod bolts and he said " when have you ever heard of a Pontiac rod bolt breaking?".

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by track73

This was a while back so things may have changed. I asked Nunzi about changing rod bolts and he said " when have you ever heard of a Pontiac rod bolt breaking?".

Nunzi makes a great point: it is rarely the bolts fail. In more cases than not it is ill prepared rods themselves that fail.

[TransAm 474]

Originally Posted by 455rebel

Thanks.
I've already had a L lifter fail on a 702!
Replaced. With a 2802 and J lifters,no more problems.
It may be summers end before I can save enough for parts.
btw, the 702 and 2802 ran almost identical times?
But, the 702 feels stronger down low, and sounded lopper!

The HyLift Johnson lifter will be about the best hydraulic flat tappet lifter available. We've used several sets of those without issue. We have also used a couple sets of the Crower Camsaver lifters with great results.

[25stevem]

To echo and give a bit more detail to what’s said in post 26 above I offer this.

The Armasteel ( alloy cast Rods) used in a Pontiac Rods at its best have a tensile strength of 35,000 psi.
At the very best this means the I beam section of the rod due to its cross section has a tensile rating of 26,250 psi from what I can calculate.

The two stock 3/8” rod bolts are made of something like S.A.E 2315 steel, but let’s use a steel of lesser strength like a basic SAE 1090, a steel like the rusted up adjustable wrench in your basement near the water heater.

The two 3/8” rod bolts have a combined area of .2200 sq inches.
SAE 1090 steel at this diameter has a minimum strength of 221,000, or over 8 times the strength of the rods I beam section!

So yes, the rod itself will long since be out the side of the block or the bottom of the oil pan before either of the bolts break due to tensile loading.

[455rebel]

Thanks u-all, that means more $s, saved!
I think. I'll reuse the set already on the pistons, u did mention
They would be a tad better (polished)?

[25stevem]

The picture you posted way back in #5 shows that they are polished already!

[Jay S]

Both the standard ARP rod bolts which are knurled for a tighter fit in the cap, and the stronger yet ARP wave locks both have much better cap alignment than Pontiac’s OEM bolts. More reason’s for replacing the originals than just breaking a bolt.

We have broke rod bolts before. I like to replacing them.

If someone took time to polish the beams on those rods I would expect it could have ARP bolts already.