Selecting Rods for 1.8L normally aspirated
 

I'm looking at rebuilding a 1.8L and I'm selecting rods to use in the rebuild.
The motor will remain normally aspirated and the power levels the motor is expected to produce are 135rwhp at most.
Keeping a stock rev-limit.

The focus is endurance W2W racing, and I will running with basic bolt on parts like headers, light flywheel.
But not next level parts like ITB, or aftermarket cams, etc.

The posts I pulled up while researching rods, are indicating that "most any rod will do, even ebay" unless running a poweradder.
Me running 130rwhp, seem to match that any rod will do.

If that is generally the case, I would choose the lightest rods available that would handle my power level, even if that means staying with factory stock rods.

From that aspect, I would look for a value proposition like choosing a set of rods that were 10% lighter at $250.
I don't think I would go for a set that was 5% lighter for $250.
Nor would I go for a set that was 15% lighter for $800, like some new rods from Carillo made out of unobtanium.

Anyone know which are the lightest rods, for a budget of $250? and how much lighter are they from stock?
Or is factory stock the rods to stick with?

Wingnut

Stock.

They come at a slight premium but at very strong and very light. The spec sheet says 10 times lighter than steel rods and 6.5 times lighter than aluminum rods. Can withstand 3000hp and 15k rpm.

https://3dprintingindustry.com/wp-co...11764480_o.jpg

Stock rods are fine for NA power. Buy a few sets and shelf balance and blat away.

These are a joke

Balanced stock rods will indeed be fine.

I went with H-beam Mtuned rods for my N/A build because I wanted to turn 8k RPMs, run 100 shot of nitrous and maybe turbo later.. but for your situation stock rods would be fine.

If you really want to swap rods get something lightweight like pauters

:rofl: