Piston and Rod Combos
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 993
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
To answer your original post; at those levels you can get by with about any forged 4340 H-beam connecting rod and KB hyper piston. KB hypers have a bad reputation mostly due to engine builders not taking the time to set them up properly and then work on what you can and can't get away with. Doing our job properly, we have disproven all the "can't do's" that we have read about.
When you look at the Carrillo K1 connecting rods keep in mind that these are not the Carrillo rods that you may have heard about in the past. The ones we have used on sprint car engines cost around $2500 depending on the bolts installed. I'm not saying that they K1's are not a good part for the money; I'm just making sure that you understand you will not be buying their top shelf connecting rod.
As for making over 500hp at 7000 RPM with a 355; it's totally possible and really not too difficult if you have the budget. About every cylinder head manufacturer and magazine out there have put together engines that pulled that much and more with modern camshafts and cylinder heads.
When you look at the Carrillo K1 connecting rods keep in mind that these are not the Carrillo rods that you may have heard about in the past. The ones we have used on sprint car engines cost around $2500 depending on the bolts installed. I'm not saying that they K1's are not a good part for the money; I'm just making sure that you understand you will not be buying their top shelf connecting rod.
As for making over 500hp at 7000 RPM with a 355; it's totally possible and really not too difficult if you have the budget. About every cylinder head manufacturer and magazine out there have put together engines that pulled that much and more with modern camshafts and cylinder heads.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
I expect that the K1 rods are at least as good as SCAT rods. At least K1 advertises their weights.
I am not exactly making a NASCAR or F1 engine here.
I am not exactly making a NASCAR or F1 engine here.
Last edited by Guru_4_hire; Oct 5, 2008 at 10:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
. It's all good 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Ok Sir, call me as-hole Jim about anything but sir lol.
Guess its to late now to talk you into the cast steel
one piece, internal balance 3.75 crank. Its not very
expensive, if I remember right believe motorhead used
one in his 550hp 406.
Guess its to late now to talk you into the cast steel
one piece, internal balance 3.75 crank. Its not very
expensive, if I remember right believe motorhead used
one in his 550hp 406.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
I got the same speech on the use of Ma'am.
I got a sweet deal on a GM forged crank.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
I have 3.55s at the moment. I am considering 3.9 or a 4.11.
with the M21 I have if I set the redline to 7000rpm even with the 4.11s I can hit 60 in first gear.
I am leaning towards 3.9 because I can still use my 3 series carrier and have it rebuilt.
with the M21 I have if I set the redline to 7000rpm even with the 4.11s I can hit 60 in first gear.
I am leaning towards 3.9 because I can still use my 3 series carrier and have it rebuilt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Is your 3.55 rear in good shape.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Wouldnt the long duration camshaft like the higher RPMs on the highway?
This is what Crane says about the cam
My Highway RPMs would be 2400-3300rpm.
This is what Crane says about the cam
ROUGH IDLE, PERFORMANCE USAGE, GOOD MID-RANGE HP, MILD BRACKET RACING, AUTO TRANS W/3000+ CONVERTER, 3800-4600 CRUISE RPM, 10.0 TO 11.5 COMPRESSION RATIO ADVISED. BASIC RPM 3000-6500
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
JustinD bought a good wide ratio 2.64 super T-10 off a forum member.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Oct 5, 2008 at 01:43 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
There are a couple on ebay now. When I get ready to buy a transmission I should readily be able to find one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
a little on the cammy side to pick up the spreads.
9.37 low gear is pretty good not far off that 10.00 magic number lol.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Oct 5, 2008 at 02:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Interestingly enough the drag2000 has the car doing the 1/4 mile faster with the Super T10 and a 3.55 rearend than a Muncie M21 and a 3.9.
10.573 versus 10.619
10.573 versus 10.619
Last edited by Guru_4_hire; Oct 5, 2008 at 03:58 PM.