Hi everyone. It has come to my attention that the 2008 connecting rods used in this engine may be of a weaker construction (powder forged steel as opposed to forged). So my question to boosted 2.4 LE5 ecotec cars, as well as vendors is how many of you are 2008 and later? What power levels are you running on your 2008+ and for how long. For example, i know Hahn's "soulfood" solstice is an 06 and held up well to over 350whp, but are there any 2008's at that level?

The rumor is, as a cost cutting measure, GM must have sneaked some cheaper rods into the later production years. A reputable vendor had one break at only 330whp (a 2008) and sent the rods for analysis to find they are similar to the L61 2.2 rods rather than forged like early LE5 rods.

I am aware the build book suggests upgrading at like 250hp, but there are too many vendors out there with 300+whp builds on stock bottom ends to discount forged rods entirely

Thanks for your time in sharing your experiences,
Ryan

 

All 2008 is non forged?

 

I am trying to determine that. Are there any 2008 LE5 cobalt's over 300whp?

 

hmm, i brought this up and everybody called me a lier! haha

i blew the motor at 303whp

 

you said all years .. not just 08..

also STILL a fucked tune will blow an engine at lower hp then it should blow at..
who is this vendor/?

there are a few 2.4's running the zzp kit at 12-15 psi that are 08s.. and have been for a while

 

i never said all years! i said if i owned one i would drop the pan and check lol

not looking to fight either way

also would like to know the shop that snapped one

 

Glen, i think the car in question was actually yours judging by your location - SMG?. My mistake for putting 330whp rather than 303whp.

elecblue06 - do you have any member names of the 08 LE5s running the zzp kits? I'd love to get in touch with them for more details. Thanks for your time guys!

 

Umm I'm a 2008 I've been boosted for almost 30,000 miles and before that it had 100 shot of nitrous for 15,000 miles I daily drive on 12 psi n when I feil like it I run my race gas tune and 14 psi and I definetly don't take it easy on it so I think you facts are very wrong

 

Mine car is easly over 300 whp on my daily tune let alone race gas I've beat plenty of well tuned and bolted lnf's evo's etc a few ppl on here have seen my car it's pretty fun haha

 

i wonder if just some 08's have this problem. im an 08 w/ a m62. im a g5 gt if that makes a difference but i should hopefully be around 300whp not too long from now

 

They are not MY facts. That's why i'm seeking clarification. Do any of you guys have dyno numbers of any kind?

 

Nope just the butt dyno it does 60 roll burnout's on drag radial's on 14 psi vp 110 and 19* of timing if that helps any haha

 

Ok, see the pictures in the link below:


Build pics

My 2007 bottom end has rods that look just like factory LSJ rods...my buddies 2008 bottom end has rods that look different - much more like stock L61 rods.

i'm NOT saying every 2008 has these weaker rods, but an appreciable number of them likely do.

FWIW, i have emails out to all the major vendors who deal with the LE5 regarding building 2008 model years, and have not heard back from anyone yet.

 

if it is the case with 2008s the nice thing will he picking up a set of stock 06 2.4 rods cheap and having them cryo treated then that will be a cheap upgrade lol

 

i posted a picture, and everybody called me out on it, even maven, god himself

but its all irrelevant now

 

again.. you said your sources said that all years were hit or miss with forged rods.. and you would recommend dropping the pan to check..

i think everyone agreed they might've changed on 1 year that makes more sense then having SOME of the year be shat on

but again it's irrelevant now.. we said we wanted more proof cuz you posted like 1 pic of your busted rod we wanted the data you got back, as well as a few more pics since some forged rods dont look like "standard" forged rods.

also we were arguing a tune could make parts **** the bed before threshold and that only parts were the only factor.. but i'm not going to rekindle the bicker fest lol

 

yeah lets steer away from that lol, it got no where

if i had my hands on more then my 08 i woulda checked, but i only had mine and what references said to go on

either way good info for the community, ive been getting entirely way to many PM's about this, so a thread is useful

 

you're going to run the m62 on 8.8:1 pistons? thats gonna suck some torque lol .. someone did that on gmsc and had less then stellar results.. but they did it in prepp for going turbo.. it'll be interesting ot see how it turns out on yours

 

I wanna run lost of boost and have It safe lol

 

well by the time you run lots of boost the blower will be way out of range .. idk i look forward to your results however your engines better suited for a turbo :P but you know that i'm sure

 

No one said im sticking with the m62 :-p

 

lol i figured that lol i'd smack you if you planned on sticking with it lol

 

Here are the different part numbers for the rods:

2006-2007: 12596088 A 2.4-B/P (LE5), (1ST DES) ROD, CONN (FORGED STEEL W/ROUNDED EDGES ON CAP AND MFG TRIM MARK AROUND OUTER PERIMETER) (FOR 2ND DES SEE 12611360)

2008+ 12598216 A 2.4-B/P (LE5), (2ND DES) ROD, CONN (POWDER METAL W/SMOOTH SURFACE CAP AND SINGLE RIDGE ACROSS CAP, W/O MFG TRIM MARK AROUND OUTER PERIMETER) (FOR 1ST DES SEE 12596088)

Any one running over 300hp on the later rods is playing with fire!

 

ok so lesson being if you have an 08 and want cheap forged rods.. buy 06 rods

cryo treat em.. and POW rods good for 500 hp

 

so do we know what the true rating is for the 06-07 forged rods?????