Should I replace stock RB26 rods?

[Justino2263]

Hey, everyone.

 

Working on rebuilding my 89' GTR now. 

 

Currently the car has an AEM infinity unit with the heads up display, fuel cell and dual fuel pumps, etc.

 

As far as the motor goes, I have a OEM piston ring set, rod and main bearings, spark plugs, valve springs and retainers, Tomei drop in cams, 800cc injectors, fuel rail, HKS intake and exhaust gears, Tomei Timing belt, OEM water pump, oil restrictor, all new OEM timing pulleys, oil pan baffle, Garrett 2860-5 turbos, HKS elbows, HKS exhaust, catch can and a bunch of other things that I'm probably forgetting right now.

 

I'm aiming for a reliable 350-400 horsepower with the car. Do you think that Replacing the rods/pistons is a must have or would it be okay to keep the OEM 26' pistons and rods?

[joshuaho96]

-5s are not a 350-400 whp kind of turbo. If that's the kind of power you want you should probably source smaller turbos than that. If that's the kind of power you want you can run stock rods and pistons. Stock bottom ends have made a more than that.

[GTSBoy]

^ Wot he sed.

You could do some work on the stock rods for old skool feel goods without spending any coin. New rods at that power level are not required, by any means.

The only counter argument is that good rods are so cheap these days that spending the time and effort to open a motor and build it with bottom end parts that could take a lot more than the near future intended usage can also be seen to be a waste of time.

How long is your piece of string?

[Duncan]

Stock rods are fine at 260-300awkw, I run a little over that in the race car and have never had a hint of a rod issue