Cheers for peoples input so far. I am getting conflicting opinions on what is really needed for a build targeting roughly 260-270awkw or whatever the little dom1.5 is capable of local dynos.

Some shops say you definitely need new rods if you are racing & launching the car at the sprints & drags, others say nah if they aren't broke yet they will be fine.

Engine only has 67k on it.

Scary prospect to think if I leave something out I may regret it. Rods aren't cheap but neither is having to pull it out and start again.

I know of someone's $20k engine that just let go on the dyno recently with only 350hp or so, broke a brand new forged rod.... Go figure.

Anyway first quote is in at $10.7k - locally built block with forged rods, pistons, arp625 head studs, freshen up the heads + pressure test(no cams), drive in/drive out (tuned/dyno run in) and ready to smash boxes.

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Bye bye betty blue. Hello F6.

How does that sit with your budget? Within, or over?

It's a bit over what I wanted to spend but it's also the first quote.

I priced a built block with(closed deck/insert) from RSS last night with similar spec to this quote and it was approx $9k without tuning or head freshen up so it's pretty realistic. About $8k for a forged semi-closed deck from RSS.

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Bye bye betty blue. Hello F6.

Do abit of research on the rods, from what i could find they are actually decent. If you are only looking to max out the 1.5 then maybe a set of ARP2000 end cap bolts with the stock rods will suffice. And saves you a few hungi to put towards AO50's.

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The one perkent...

Hey Tony. Yeah there has been divided opinion on the head studs too. Some say the arp2000's are more than adequate for the build, some say go the arp625's for extra insurance.

Meh fuck knows it's all too hard.

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Bye bye betty blue. Hello F6.

As a bare minimum.
Strip the block, buy new pistons (first oversize) get the block honed to suit the pistons and refaced too. Skim the heads and RCM head gaskets are well worth the money and the slight wait for them.

With regard to headstuds ARP 2000's should be ok at that level but there's no guarantees. If you want to be absolutely certain then 625s if you have the budget. I'm well aware that people have different opinions on this that's just mine but it's based on some pretty good experience of building these things.

The rods should be OK at that level but again if you can afford some now's the time. I can highly recommend the Argo rods that were put into James Wilton's engine when I built it recently very good quality, very strong and around $800 for the set.

Finally choose your engine builder and tuner very carefully.

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605whp
Quarter Mile in 10.9 seconds @ 135mph /217kph
0-100 kph 3.2 seconds

I think their has been abit of confusion, i was refering to the end cap bolts on the stock rod, you can by an ARP2000 bolt to replace the stock ones.

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The one perkent...

No confusion here I was specifically referring to headstuds re Nick's post below.

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605whp
Quarter Mile in 10.9 seconds @ 135mph /217kph
0-100 kph 3.2 seconds

Haha sorry i should have quoted Nic so my comment was directed at him.

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The one perkent...

Yes, I did get confused. Cheers ears.

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Bye bye betty blue. Hello F6.