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Thread: LS rods

  1. #1
    LXi User InAccordance's Avatar
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    LS rods

    Been doing some digging and looks like some years ago, people were entertaining the idea of using Integra LS connecting rods in the a20.
    From what I've found, a20 rods are 137mm in length.

    https://www.realstreetperformance.co...b20-5-394.html
    Those are 137mm in length.
    Now I know the wristpin is a different size, a20 being 19mm if I remember correctly, but you could easily have a machine shop bore the pistons out to 21mm and even then get upgraded pins which is win win. Or have pistons made with that spec.

    Thoughts? Cause that's not a bad price for forged H-beam rods if they could work.
    Last edited by InAccordance; 01-27-2019 at 08:22 PM.
    Originally posted by ShiRen:
    Nice car or not, nobody likes losing a race to an old 4 door Honda.



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    Re: LS rods

    All motor? Then LS rods + arp bolts + custom pistons. You can use stock rods with arp bolts, but rjudgey swears the stock rods are guaranteed to give out at some point. So I wouldn't go that route if you can avoid it. I personally think boring a stock piston that much is a terrible idea. Not to mention why would you combine forged rods with stock pistons....
    If turbo then of course would be forged rods + custom pistons.
    Last edited by night; 01-28-2019 at 10:31 AM.

  3. #3
    LXi User InAccordance's Avatar
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    Re: LS rods

    Yea I was more thinking having pistons made using the a20 size but with the 21mm wristpins.
    Slap those together and we've got forged rods and pistons and she can rev to the moon. Until the valvetrain gives out anyway lol
    I need to dig up more of rjudgey's posts from preludepower. I have some saved from years ago but still missing a lot. From what I remember he had pretty much worked out how to build the valvetrain to handle 8k rpms easily and reliably.

    Maybe just have to take the plunge and see if those rods would work for sure. Get a junkyard engine and tear it apart then rebuild and see.
    Originally posted by ShiRen:
    Nice car or not, nobody likes losing a race to an old 4 door Honda.

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    Re: LS rods

    Cygnus and Smeado did a lot too.
    D intake valves with B exhaust guides, lash caps to make up some of the height diff.
    Exhaust has to be custom or made from bigger blanks.

  5. #5
    SEi User obd0driver's Avatar
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    Re: LS rods

    So u have to dig it up but to run ls rods you'll need to shave the crankshaft and or the rods to fit them just a bit cuz there that tight I have personally tried them. Also I have the spec on stock size JE pistions for the a20 if you would like them. But I've emailed them in the pass about them and they said it's a $1000(+/-) to re run a set. With that being said it would be cheaper to hone the block to fit a 83mm pistons for a b20/ls and run matching rods.

  6. #6
    LXi User InAccordance's Avatar
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    Re: LS rods

    cool cool.
    I did find some technical info about our block in that it is 82.7mm bore which is pretty damn close to 83mm and that could easily be bored out to.
    Was wondering about the crank so that's good to know. Shouldn't be too expensive to have that done.
    I can find a set of rods and pistons that are 83mm for about 600ish bucks all day so would probably go that route.
    Stroke wouldn't matter since I'd be using the a20 crank right cause there is a difference albeit a quite small one.
    The other concern is compression height.
    Originally posted by ShiRen:
    Nice car or not, nobody likes losing a race to an old 4 door Honda.

  7. #7
    LXi User InAccordance's Avatar
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    Re: LS rods

    oh and yea, hit me with that piston spec, maybe shop around and see if I can find a shop to make em cheaper
    Originally posted by ShiRen:
    Nice car or not, nobody likes losing a race to an old 4 door Honda.

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    Re: LS rods

    Compression height is the same, 1.181.
    What I cant find is a for sure number on deck height... just out of curiosity...

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    Re: LS rods

    Usually on most engines(general) there is a measure spot on the block you measure from to get this number from. Same with heads there is a mark to the head surface you can measure so you know if its been cut or not.

    Where that is on ours is a good question for for an engine shop if your lucky they work on Hondas.

    I think on American V8 they use the crank center line as there datum and move out but thats just a guess on my part.

    EDIT: guess backed up by a link

    CNC Engine Block Maching:MA,CT,RI,VT,NH,ME,NY,NJ

    "blue printing" and engine block would be a good google search start.
    Last edited by Oldblueaccord; 02-03-2019 at 03:58 AM.
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    Re: LS rods

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldblueaccord View Post
    Usually on most engines(general) there is a measure spot on the block you measure from to get this number from. Same with heads there is a mark to the head surface you can measure so you know if its been cut or not.

    Where that is on ours is a good question for for an engine shop if your lucky they work on Hondas.

    I think on American V8 they use the crank center line as there datum and move out but thats just a guess on my part.

    EDIT: guess backed up by a link

    CNC Engine Block Maching:MA,CT,RI,VT,NH,ME,NY,NJ

    "blue printing" and engine block would be a good google search start.
    I think you thing the wrong LS. He's talking B20/b18(LS) Honda.

    But here's a photo of B20 rod on the A20 crankshaft. You can see how tightly they fit. I would say that you would have to have one or the other (or both)shaved down just a hair to make the fit right. They are missing the bearings but it still give you a Idea what your looking at. Yes you are right about the stock piston size being 82.xxmm. So yeah 83mm would be a good size but you can go as big as 84mm. So If you shop for b20 rods with 83mm/84mm its pretty easy. That hard part is in the wallet because you'll have have the block honed and the crankshaft cut/balanced. This is where blueprinting comes into play. So be sure to go to the best of the best so you aren't replacing everything twice.


    Also here's the photos of the pistons box and the spec sheet. Jason budd sent to me personally about 2 years ago. Only real problem is finding rods. But I have located a place in Southern California that make rods for the A18 which should work just fine in any A series block and for $240 how can you complain. Here's there link.

    C.A.T.

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    Re: LS rods

    Swing and a miss there noob.

    he asked about the deck height I answered it the best I could.
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  12. #12
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    Re: LS rods

    Quote Originally Posted by Oldblueaccord View Post
    Swing and a miss there noob.

    he asked about the deck height I answered it the best I could.
    Noob hahahahha nice try.
    The deck height would be the same because Honda pistons are all the same unless you have them made different. B series pistons and A20 use the same blank from factory size is the only thing that changed they once offered over sized from factory. Those custom JE pistions are just B series sized to fit in the block A series block the pistons have the valve reliefs from a B series. Now that would be the only thing to be worried about. However the a series in a now interface motor so I don't see it being a problem unless you have a crazy domed pistons but a normal dished piston the cut set lower the top edge to the valves cant touch the piston ever.

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    Re: LS rods

    Quote Originally Posted by obd0driver View Post
    Noob hahahahha nice try.
    The deck height would be the same because Honda pistons are all the same unless you have them made different. B series pistons and A20 use the same blank from factory size is the only thing that changed they once offered over sized from factory. Those custom JE pistions are just B series sized to fit in the block A series block the pistons have the valve reliefs from a B series. Now that would be the only thing to be worried about. However the a series in a now interface motor so I don't see it being a problem unless you have a crazy domed pistons but a normal dished piston the cut set lower the top edge to the valves cant touch the piston ever.

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    LXi User InAccordance's Avatar
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    Re: LS rods

    That's a damn good find though, those A-series rods.
    Thanks for the pics with the info, very helpful!
    If you ever want to sell those, holla =P
    Originally posted by ShiRen:
    Nice car or not, nobody likes losing a race to an old 4 door Honda.

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    Re: LS rods

    This just in I have more info. It's in Spanish however this person has done an 84 mil piston swap whisk B20 rods in a series that in a running car and runs 13 second quarter miles all he had to do was bored the block.

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    Re: LS rods

    But wait theres more

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    Re: LS rods

    Some more

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    LXi User InAccordance's Avatar
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    Re: LS rods

    84 is pushing the service limit no?
    Originally posted by ShiRen:
    Nice car or not, nobody likes losing a race to an old 4 door Honda.

  20. #20
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    Re: LS rods

    Quote Originally Posted by InAccordance View Post
    84 is pushing the service limit no?
    Not sure it the biggest anyone had gone because it did get a little close but you can get 83mm ones if you worrying about that.

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    Re: LS rods

    More photos

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  22. #22
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    Re: LS rods

    Sounds healthy and with all the rev limiter bouncing I'd say that piston to valve clearance hasn't been a problem for himTapatalk Cloud - Downlaoad File received_545492285973223.mp4

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  23. #23
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    Re: LS rods

    This is what hes running on stock b20 rods. As he states in his video everything he did some polishing and shaving to get the weight off. All of which was done by him and his two hands.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/JDM-NIPPON-...3-8c41ed561054

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  24. #24
    LXi User InAccordance's Avatar
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    Re: LS rods

    Dang.
    Originally posted by ShiRen:
    Nice car or not, nobody likes losing a race to an old 4 door Honda.

  25. #25
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    Re: LS rods

    Quote Originally Posted by InAccordance View Post
    Dang.
    Yeah helps when you talk to people that have actually done something opposed to naysayers they have an actually tried it.

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