Lingenfelter

[geoffinbc]

Why would they remove the Titanium rods on the LS7 and install conventional steel rods.

Titanium is tronger and lighter isn't it?

[X11_STE]

Lighter, stronger, AND when you heat them up, they change colors!

Oh, I think this is one of those times when the General just had to hit the crack pipe to satisfy the bean counters.

[Guest]

BTY, where does this come from?

[geoffinbc]

Guess I should have linked it

http://www.lingenfelter.com/LingenfelterC6ZO6427CIDTwinTurboCorvette.htm

They use manley 4340 Rods

[LeftVentricle]

I don't know... 46 large to add 300 HP... That's a significant increase, but I don't think it's worth that much.

[geoffinbc]

It is very worth it. For the quality you recieve in service and parts I would pay for it.

It is not just a Turbo bolt on. It is a complete overhaul. And to have the fastest street legal car on the road for less than the cheppest Ferrari I would do it.

[RacerX11]

Oh, I think this is one of those times when the General just had to hit the crack pipe to satisfy the bean counters.

Bean counters? Care to explain?

Marty

[X11_STE]

Titanium is expensive. Steel is cheep. If they switch from expensive to cheep then the profits go up. If profits go up bean counters are happy. And bean counters is an old term for accountant.

[geoffinbc]

Lingenphelter is the one using steel. GM rods would be more expensive. There must be a reason for the Steel rods. I'm guessing they are just much larger and stronger overall for the extra power.

[RacerX11]

Titanium is expensive. Steel is cheep. If they switch from expensive to cheep then the profits go up. If profits go up bean counters are happy. And bean counters is an old term for accountant.

I know what bean counters are, I just don't understand why you referenced them here. As BTY mentioned, GM put Ti rods in the production Z06 Vette. Lingenfelter is the one swapping for steel. No GM bean counters in that equation.

Marty

[RacerX11]

There must be a reason for the Steel rods. I'm guessing they are just much larger and stronger overall for the extra power.

My guess is the stock Z06 Ti rods may be the better, lighter, stronger stock rod, but they probbaly aren't strong enough to support 800HP. The Manley steel rods are already proven to work at that power level, and cheaper than what Ti would cost.

Marty

[bszopi]

Well, here is my experience with titanium and steel...

Russia uses titanium hulls on there submarines. This allows the subs to go deeper than the American steel hulls. But, the problem is, if the sub goes too low, the titanium gets affected (brittle?) and the safe allowable depth the sub can now go is decreased. If it goes down past the allowable depth again, the strength of the titanium goes down again. Eventually, it gets to the point where the sub is limited to less than half of its original depth. Hence the reason the US still uses steel in all of their subs. They did look into titanium parts for the Seawolf subs, but couldn't find 2 testing procedures that met the Navy's requirements, so they scraped the idea.

[Guest]

So, GM for sure uses Ti rods in production?

There might be a change, not because of the material used, but overall strength. Just because something is made of a material known for strength doesn't autmatically make it strong. The design plays a large effect on overall strength and durability.

[geoffinbc]

So, GM for sure uses Ti rods in production?

There might be a change, not because of the material used, but overall strength. Just because something is made of a material known for strength doesn't autmatically make it strong. The design plays a large effect on overall strength and durability.

Thats what I am thinking too. But the Ti rods were used because they were so sucessful in racing. The racing motors make a hell of laot more than 800HP. But again the racing rods and factory rods may not be of equal strength.

Who knows. I guess only Lingenfelter

[Manitcor]

brad's comments make alot of sence. Titanimum when stressed does infact become much weaker unlike steel. In a stock NA LS7 engine this may not be an issue as there is not enough stress on the metal to cause a problem. When you add twin turbos you are adding alot of stress and heat to rods which with tiatianium may create concern espically when the engine is stressed often (which im sure any ligenfelter owner does). As has been said the steel rods are known to handle the power and when your running forced induction a bit more rotating mass in the intrest of known the engine will hold is certainly worth it.

As for the price tag, Id say its well worth it. This isnt just sometuning shop that slaps a couple turbos on, this is a complete teardown and engine rebuild tuned and tested for race applications. It even includes a 24month 24k mile warranty.

With the cost of a new Z06 + the cost of the ligenfelter kit making the total price of the car around 120k for a car that will completly tear up most supercars including the 166k ford GT im sure its well worth it.