I was wondering if it was possible to drop the oil pan and change the rod bolts on a b18a. i was going to do a stock bottom end ls/vtec and then later build it up. But i want to just change the rod bolts because they are usually the first thing to fail. Is it possible?? is there enough room to do it properly?

 

Yes you can. Just be sure to have some sort of manual. If you want to remove the rod and stuff, you have to remove the head, drop the oil pan, push the piston out, loosen the main cap, take the piston to a machine shop and let them push out/in the new rod bolts, and depending on the condition of your cylinder wall you will either have to get it rehone or just slap that biotch back in without honing. G/l. Hope you have plenty of time around to do it lol. I did and everything work fine.

 

never realy done any internal engine work but could i just change out the rod bolts w/o taking the rod and piston out? just take the stock bolt out and replace it with a arp. I just want to do that no other internal work. then later do a full rebuild with forged pistons/rods, ect..

 

Every time I see someone install ARP rod bolts, they have the large end of the rod resized. I have wondered if it is really necessary, but seems to be the common practice. Which would mean you would have to pull the rod and take it to a machine shop.