Can I/should I Replace My Rod Bolts - W/ Engine In Car?!?

oz said:

My questions are:
1. Is it possible to change the rod bolts while the engine is in the car - assuming I've lifted it high enough to remove the pan? Are the bolts pressed into the rods or can they be removed?
2. Would replacing the rod bolts w/ ARP bolts be the best way to reinforce my bottom end - short of getting a sportsman or dart block w/ upgraded rotating assembly?

Click to expand...

The rod bolts aren't the weakest link on your engine. That title goes to the stock block and the reason is that the main bearing caps can "walk" at higher rpm (usually 6500+), resulting in cracks forming around the bolt holes. After repeated high rpm blasts, those cracks will extend upwards through the main webs to the cam bearings, causing a loss of oil pressure and onset of engine vibration. The few lucky guys will only need to replace the block but most aren't so fortunate and end up grenading the engine. A main cap girdle will merely hold some of the fragments together and limit the carnage, so it could help save some bottom end components from damage and allow them to be reused in a new block.
If you limit yourself to 6000rpm and detune the engine to ~450rwhp, it'll have a better chance of survival.