it's been nearly two years since i've done anything to my car. last i did was a suspension upgrade and never really touched it since. i really wanted 500+ hp but i figured that the teg chasis wasn't the way to go for me and besides most of my parts are around the 400hp mark. i just wanted to finish it off with a slight build. aiming for 400-425whp with no sleeves. (this is a weekend car not dd) i'm kinda iffy about the sleeves because the motor has almost 160k but still shoots a 220psi across. i really don't want to sleeve because that'd only make me want to change the setup. thinking cp 9:1, eagle h beams, acl bearing. do i need the arp main bolts? as far as putting the rods and pistons in, is this something an amatuer can do?




here is the list:
stock b18c1 @ 7psi
turbonetics t3/t4 .57 trim
ram manifold
tial 38mm
edelbrock victor x
3" down pipe and cat back w/no cat
arp head studs
clutchmaster stage 3 w/8lb flywheel > ugrading???
rc 550cc injectors > upgrading
walbro 255lph
p28 crome pro basemap> upgrading

 

No on the main studs unless you plan to have it line honed. Also, I suggest you get a fresh hone on the block or just go 81.5mm. With that many miles it would be a wise idea to have the block honed. Of course I shouldn't have to tell you that cause I'm sure you already knew that. If not I suggest you have someone else do the labor for you.

 

also my buddy was telling me to go with oem rod bearings instead of acl bearings because of the clearance between them doesn't really allow a lot of oil flow. would it be wise to go oem? any suggestions on what type of piston? i was thinking cp 9:1 because that's what i've seen most people suggest..

 

Laskey Racing built my motor with ACL bearings. Still runs great. I hear a lot of other builders using OEM though. Just my .02

 

built my LS using ACL bearings, ran nitrous through it, then turboed it and ran it at 15 psi, generally stomped on the car daily....no problems. Same with a JRSC d16z6 build for a friend, and some others. DO check your clearances, though. I suppose that the OE honda ones have great sizing choices for the **** builder, but the ACL goods have treated me well on a few builds.

 

yeah i had wanted to go with sleeves through laskey racing but maybe another setup in a lighter chasis. the main question i had was is it pretty easy installing the rods and pistons or leave it to a pro. i'm pretty knowledgeable about cars and if given the right instruction i believe i can do it. it's guessing it's similar to removing the head on a gsr.... and is 400whp pretty much where you want to be at with stock sleeves?