Shot Peening vs Aftermarket rods?

[Ezzo]

Same as the title says, Im debating on what to do with the rod and piston situation with my KA-T setup. I know the pistons have to be changed, I don't think theres an alternative. I plan on running a ct-26, t25 or t3/t4. I'm still weighing in the pro's and cons of each compressor. I know tophat performance shot peens their ka-t's and rates them upto 400whp. My estimated goal is about 250whp daily drive maybe 300 race/drift/fun time.

Anyone have experience with shot peening? would it be a less costly alternative to buying the crower rods or another aftermarket equivelant? Thanks for reading my thread and any input would be appriciated

[s14det]

For 300whp, the stockers would be fine. Like everyone says, it is all in the tune. Same for the stock piston's also, stock piston's will be fine for 300hp. Just get a good tune for fuel and timing.

[S14tat]

people who have run forged pistons and stock rods ( shot peened ) have terrible results ( blown engines ) so i would shell out the extra for rods if i was you. that is without a doubt what everyone would say. if your goin to spend that much money, might as well go all the way.

[Craving4Boost]

yeah what tat said is true. honestly, i think ka-t owners tried to prove too much to, lets say, SR owners, that we can make so much more power stock than they can....its about time we paid the price. after im tired of my 8-12psi...im going fully built. i have nothing to prove to SR owners or other people...i just want to have reliable boost for myself. i doubt Honda owners ask themselves...should i only upgrade pistons? (if they go boost that is) the KA-T scene can murder the myth of KA's...we just have to stop half-assing it.

P.S....make sure your tune is good!

[Ezzo]

my tune will deff be good, I don't half *** anything. my goal is sheer reliability. doubeling the HP on stock rods doesnt sound good to me at all like ive read a lot of people saying it can be done. I just wanted some oppinions on the shot peen as compared to the crowers. I'm not trying to cheap out I just didn't want to go out and buy more rod than I was going to use. Bulletproof reliability is where im aiming. So Topic setteled im gonna start saving for the crowers.

Tat do you know why people have had such bad resluts with the shot peen as compared to the aftermarket rods? Are they just overestimating the stregnth of them? a bad shot peen job? or is it something to do with the metalurgy of shot peening?
Modified by Ezzo at 8:34 PM 4/21/2006

[S14tat]

it appears that 95% of the people who have built engines with great tunes with forged slugs and hardened stock rods seems to destroy their rods. we all tried to think of the logic behind it, such as maybe the forged pistons are heavier ( they weight the same ) but we can't seem to figure out why, but there are enough cases that made us all agree that stock rods and forged piston combo is a no no.

[420sxse]

Huh, that's interesting about the rods. No one mentioned that when I asked about recommendations for my build with almost the same goal (200-250hp reliable kade) and mentioned I was considering using stock rods with forged pistons and better bearings . It's OK, though, because I have already decided to go all out. I want to reincarnate this engine, ready for another full life. I'm upgrading pistons/rings, rods, bearings, head gasket, bolts, and the oil pump. Doubling the output of an engine is serious business, so I'm with you two. No half assing it, even if it does take longer to scrape the funds. I want my engine to run another 100K miles at least. Trying to "prove something" is stupid. Unless it's important, which this isn't. Besides, I see enough SR parts for sale to know that they're out there blowing their engines too.

[Ezzo]

doubeling the HP of any engine is serieous business, but depending on the stregnth of the engine off the shelf is the variable in the situation. I havent had much experience with shot peening so I figured i would try and get some input on the process maybe from some people who did it. So the anomoly is to do with the combo of stock rods and forged pistons. Not in the SP process itself. BTW im in no hurry to toss a DIY turbo kit on my car. Ive got all the time in the world to do it rite. lol and im not trying to prove anything... just enjoying my car for me

[dsylvia]

i think if your looking for 200-250hp, stock rods may be ok. still need pistons though. if you start wanting 300hp+ stock rods become questionable. they may work, but for how long.

i went all out with my motor and i like not really having to worry about boost spikes and stuff.

[TheOne]

actually, you'll be fine for 200-250 or even 300hp on stock block(pistons, rods), anything after that you'll want to upgade, and if you want more, why not do it now?

[Ezzo]

yeah I'm not really trying to get around forking out the money or puting the work in to make a stronger build, just weighing in different options. Finding the easyer routes to my finished goal. I understand the consept of building for 300+ but i dont think that i will want any more than 300 alteast out of my KA. I have my limits. I'm not trying to drag race with it or anything so thats where the 250 - Daily 300 - Fun numbers come in. Who knows the bug could bite me and 300 wont be enough. I'm going for the Crower 4340 steel billet rods. The titanium are wayy more than i plan to fork out on rods and thats where my "Buying more rod than im going to use" comes in. Or if anyone has a better suggestion on them. But I know thats been discussed a million times.

[pregmantis]

I thnk its something you will allways ask yourself if you dnt change your rods. Im allways tellin myself I hope the rods hold.

[dsylvia]

titanium is over kill.

regular crowers or pauter(which i have) will do fine.

[kedbmx]

i say do it right the first time. go with forged internals.

[Florida240sx]

For your goal the STOCKERS ARE FINE, but I know and others know you will want more. So wait 2 more weeks to afford forged so that way when you put on that T88 no need to rebuild your engine.If your inside your engine then mine as well go ahead and repalce it. *What I'm doing*Keeping stock rods, aftermarket pistons, clevaite bearings, CROWER V2 cams, and cosm HG. This is my choice. If my rods go then we will know for a fact what these rods can handle. There is countless dyno of the rods holding over 400hp. there is some ka's under 400 the have gone boom. It all depends on the life of the engine.

[Ezzo]

ok well ive recently aquired another KA24DE that is in verry good shape ^.^ so i will probly be building that for my end HP goals and leaving my current engine in the car and driving me to work and back lol. The idea of trying jason's 700$ turbo kit just to try out a low boost (200hp) on the ka that i have in my car. I would probly add SAFC or some type of enigne management to it for safety but it would give me some insight into how the stock KA will handle boost. Probly point me into a better direction with my real KA-T build.