The 1G 7 bolt is not that hard to buy for, as there is massive cross-compatibility with the 2G 7 bolt. Check this out, it describes a lot of the specs compared between 6 bolt and 7 bolt, and 1G-7 bolt vs 2G-7 bolt:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060408211326/http://www.darklightning.com/gi/1gvs2g.htm

Downside is you can't make as much power as a 1g with a 6 bolt on stock internals. Still a good motor though. If the car is clean and well maintained I say go for it.

A quick search on here will show that 7 bolts are more than capable motors. They get a bad rep but they are still very strong.

The bad rep, IMO, comes from inexperienced people doing one simple thing: Not wiring their clutch out.
True, the split thrust bearing is superior in handling lateral load wear, but ANY car that's modified will more than likely have a pressure plate with clamp forces upwards of 2900lbs. So of course crankwalk can happen on any car when you apply that much lateral load on an engine with zero oil pressure on start up.
I think crankwalk is way over rated and gave 7 bolts and unwarranted reputation.
I think the only thing is the rods in a 7 bolt arent' quite as strong as the 6 bolt. I may be wrong on that, i been out of DSMs for a while and i'm a bit foggy. That's not really an issue cause any time you're building a car rods/pistons are among the very first things to upgrade when you're rebuilding.

2fast2evo said:

The 1G 7 bolt is not that hard to buy for, as there is massive cross-compatibility with the 2G 7 bolt. Check this out, it describes a lot of the specs compared between 6 bolt and 7 bolt, and 1G-7 bolt vs 2G-7 bolt:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060408211326/http://www.darklightning.com/gi/1gvs2g.htm

Click to expand...

Good article this and like it says, crankwalk in the first gens are almost unheard of.

boost97gst said:

I think the only thing is the rods in a 7 bolt arent' quite as strong as the 6 bolt. I may be wrong on that, i been out of DSMs for a while and i'm a bit foggy. That's not really an issue cause any time you're building a car rods/pistons are among the very first things to upgrade when you're rebuilding.

Click to expand...

You are correct. As far as I recall the big end of the rod is slightly wider in the 6 bolt and the small end (wrist pin hole) is slightly smaller in the 6 bolt. 6 bolt rods are often used as a cheapo hi-po build option but the machining preparation of them for use on the 7-bolt crank has to be PERFECT or else...or else.

Fwiw, my 1g 7 bolt crank walked. It had act 2600 clutch.

We ran 11.0 @ 126 on a stock 1G 7 bolt with 134k on it, then pulled it when we did a built 6 bolt and it's still running fine last I heard in a 2G.

Also, remember that all EVOs have "7 bolt rods" and plenty have made as much power as stock 6 bolt bottom ends, if not more.

Thanks for the info, folks. Will any 1g transmission fit a 7-bolt motor?