outsideline

Can engine be raised enough to remove oil pan to replace
Rod bolts with ARP,s for preventive maintenance.
Or is there another way.
02 Z. 37,000 miles. Hpde only car.
Will be replacing damper, & doing trunion upgrade shortly.

froggy47

mesospeedy

I'm not an expert, but if I remember correctly, arp rod bolts can't be used as a direct replacement. Or maybe they can't be done without tear down, I remember hearing something about them years ago when I was going to upgrade mine in my LS1 Z28. Either way, I do know for sure that Katech rod bolts can be used/installed by simply removing the oil pan. Tick Performance installed mine, if you call them I'm sure Jonathan can give you some tips on the install.

RX-Ben

I think the official word on ARPs is that you should have your rods checked and possibly resized. The katechs are a bolt-in.
Some people have directly installed the ARPs with no issues, IIRC. Not really worth chancing it.

J.R.

If you install ARP rod bolts you need to re size rods.

outsideline

Ok, Katech bolts, does the cradle need to be lowered to install..

Paul Schmidt

If you are really set on doing this. I would pop out the motor. It's not that hard and it would be easier and better to do this job on an engine stand. I've done it several times by myself. If it were me. I would pass on doing rod bolts. I'm sure they'll be fine. I would be more worried about your guibos in your torque tube more than rod bolts.

rustyguns

fyi bad ( dry) old motor mounts will cause your torque tube bushings (guibos) to fail. by now all original C5 motor mounts are shot

I did 3 torque tubes until i figured it out!l

UstaB-GS549

I would agree with others about not messing with rod bolts on stock engine.

OT Rustyguns:

How do you tell if motor mounts are bad?

RX-Ben

Assuming you are keeping the stock redline and roughly stock power levels, you should be fine w/OEM bolts.
Would more readily consider this if it was an upgraded/higher-rev'ing pre-'00 engine. Or if you were competing and regularly needed extra revs (7k range).

rustyguns

you can't !! it can mess up your tranny and rear end too!

they are just cheap hunks of rubber not designed to last more than 5 years

when you replace them it is a great time to do the harmonic balancer and steering rack too

g/l

davidfarmer

The 02's had the improved design rod bolts, I wouldn't change them. Only the early engines (97-00) had the sloppy rod bolts. If you are turning over 6900rpm, you need better rods, not just bolts

that being said, if you disconnect the motor mounts and drop the subframe as far as it will go (loosen bolts almost all the way), lower subframe/lift engine, I bet you can get just enough room to pull the pan. I can't remember if I've ever done it, but it seems like you should be able to do it.

outsideline

Thanks for all the info from everybody.
I will concentrate on other improvements to my car.