1g rods in a 1g 7bolt

[drivemusicnow]

I am putting together a budget motor to handle moderate abuse (figure it should stay under 400hp) And I have a few parts available to me.

I am using a 1g 7bolt block with a NEW 1g 7bolt crank.

I have NEW 1g 7bolt rods, as well as used 1g 6bolt "big rods"

I need to purchase bearings, pistons, timing stuff and a headgasket to complete this longblock.

My question is: Can I modify the 1g "big rods" to work with the 7bolt crank. (or do they work already? Is the "big side" the same between 6 and 7bolt motors?)

Would it be worth it to modify them to work? What RPM guestimate limit has been associated with the 1g 7bolt rods?

For pistons, I would like to obtain them as cheaply as possible. I can get new OEM 2g (or equiv) for 200$ new, or possibly get used wiseco/JE/ross pistons for 300$ range with new rings. Would the machine work to make a JE piston work with a stock rod be worth it? I would like the higher compression, but I'm a little hesitant to spend more money on a block that I will be selling/blowing up in 2 years. Any suggestions or ideas?

I have DSMLink and a wideband so tuning is not a problem, and I'm not going to be pushing it for max horsepower.

For the bearings, I'm looking into just going with the cheaper topline brand, as I figure that if you correctly install (proper clearances etc) the bearing does not ever wear except on startup. I'm not building this motor to last 50K miles, so I'm not to worried about them.

 

[timloomis]

i actually sold some 1g big rods to a guy doing the same thing a while back.he said the machine shop had to "skinny" them up on the crank.theyre a little too wide to fit on a 7 bolt 1g crank,but they do work.