Has anybody Bushed turbo con-rods

Fision

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I have run across many references to bushing turbo con-rods to fit NA pistons, but all in the third person/theoretical. Has anyone done this? Any recommendations on what bushings to use? Hopefully I’m only a couple weeks away from getting this done.
 

Randy Bush

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Why would want to do this? If I remember right the turbo pin is roughly around a .100 larger which would make for a very thick bushing, easy to pound out more. The turbo piston is a lot stronger and better design. Personally I would not do it.
 

Fision

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Why would want to do this? If I remember right the turbo pin is roughly around a .100 larger which would make for a very thick bushing, easy to pound out more. The turbo piston is a lot stronger and better design. Personally I would not do it.
Excellent question. My reason for wanting to do this is I bought a prepped block with matching new NA pistons.
Absolutely I would prefer turbo pistons, but that’s another $4-500. After weighing options I’m sticking with these pistons. Unless someone knows a great deal on +.040 turbo pistons. Yes, +.040 . I don’t like it either. But the block sonic checked ok, so I’m pulling the trigger.
The question now is— NA rods or the turbo rods. To nail down this decision I need to know what’s going to be involved($) in adapting the turbo rods.
The crank and balancer I have are also from an IDIT, so would be easier to balance to the turbo rods (not that it can’t be done with the NA, afaik).
You mention that the bushing would be “easy to pound out more.” By this do you mean deform out of shape? This is a concern I have... and part of why I’m asking “has anyone done it?”
To be immediately followed by “how’d it work out? How many miles? How many hp engine?...”
 
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Fision

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So it sounds like a harder steel bushing would need to be made and be pressed into the rod, and a regular NA bushing would need to be pressed into that? We’re getting complicated, aren’t we. Despite all the talk of doing this it seems no one actually has? Anyone know otherwise?
 

Randy Bush

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So it sounds like a harder steel bushing would need to be made and be pressed into the rod, and a regular NA bushing would need to be pressed into that? We’re getting complicated, aren’t we. Despite all the talk of doing this it seems no one actually has? Anyone know otherwise?
Doing all of that , which I suspected to be done right sounds like going to add up to some coin. New turbo pistons might not be so expensive after all.
 

Fision

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I thought it might go that way. I was under the impression some had done it, and could hopefully provide useful solutions.
I’m still mildly surprised no one has put turbo rods in a 6.9. I suppose the head bolts/studs are the weak link anyway...
 

Booyah45828

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Instead of bushing the rods, have you looked into boring the pistons out to the turbo wrist pin size? I'd be surprised if the piston manufacturer used different slugs for the idi and idit pistons. So if you have new pistons, they might be able to have the bores machined larger for the idit pin.

Old oem pistons might not have used the same slug, so it's worth checking between the two.
 

nelstomlinson

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The IDIT pistons have keystone ring grooves, which I think is better? Might be worth while going to the IDIT pistons and con rods just to get that, if you are having to get new ones anyway. If you don't need to replace everything, the stock stuff is pretty stout. Everyone tells me that 300hp is safe for an NA with studs.
 

Randy Bush

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Instead of bushing the rods, have you looked into boring the pistons out to the turbo wrist pin size? I'd be surprised if the piston manufacturer used different slugs for the idi and idit pistons. So if you have new pistons, they might be able to have the bores machined larger for the idit pin.

Old oem pistons might not have used the same slug, so it's worth checking between the two.

That is something I would not recommend doing. You are talk about a pin that is held in place with snap rings and roughly .100 larger.
 

Booyah45828

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That is something I would not recommend doing. You are talk about a pin that is held in place with snap rings and roughly .100 larger.

The pin is closer to .200" larger. If the boss for the pin bore is thick enough or is the same as an idit piston, I don't see a problem cutting that material out.

I'd do that before I'd start messing with installing brass bushings into steel bushings into the connecting rod pin bore.
 

Randy Bush

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The pin is closer to .200" larger. If the boss for the pin bore is thick enough or is the same as an idit piston, I don't see a problem cutting that material out.

I'd do that before I'd start messing with installing brass bushings into steel bushings into the connecting rod pin bore.
IDIT annd PSD are 33 mm and IDI are 30 mm , 3 mm is .118 thousands .You still have to machine for the snap ring. IMO it is not worth the hassle.



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Randy Bush

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Information I looked was wrong then . Don't have the IDI information so had to look it up . But still no way would I remove .200 thousands out of the piston. By the time you have a machinist do the work would be into it for the cost of new pistons.
 

IDIBRONCO

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Without being an expert, I'd say that there's no way you could bore the N/A rods out that large. Ok, you could, but the outer diameter of the Turbo rods on the small end is also larger than on the N/A rods. I'm talking about viewing the rod from the side, and looking at the round part where the wrist pin passes through. I think this would weaken the rod enough that it wouldn't hold up very long unless you're at stock power levels. Even then it may not last.
 

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