i've only been casually following this conversation, but here's what it seems to me...
There's no such thing as bulletproof (at least on these motors!) so fully built doesnt mean it wont blow.
At the same time, if the stars are aligned, you can push the stock block pretty far without it blowing. Doesn't work on every motor, but some motors were born especially strong from the factory, while others were born with blown ringlands.
I think i remember a thread on another forum about a guy who had a second block ready to go, so he kept pushing the stock block farther and farther as a sort of expensive experiment, and it kept not blowing. He got tired and swapped the other one in just because he was tired of waiting for the factory block to pop.
No matter how well you build an engine (any engine), there is always a weak point and there is always a potential of failure when you're using the power. We are also in a situation waiting for CJ's car to pop, but it hasn't. I was most worried about ring lands in my car, then I started lifting a head.
thats what im trying to explain. :lol: thank you grinder. especially being in different climates, different valuables that just aren't definite.
I already knew exactly what you were trying to explain, however, the rods are actually quite strong. The SHO rods were produced and looked very similar and nobody has ever questioned the rods, even at 640whp (stock rods, bearings, bolts, head gaskets, and head bolts - there was no other alternative).
People dont usually push stock rods past their limits..because the bearings will give out first. But in some cases people will want aftermarket bearings with stock clearances when installing forged pistons, with the stock rods, and then they can snap a rod, right? It depends on if the OEM case was broken open or not too in some cases. It weakens the case halves and throws away Subaru's method of building their motors, which they been doing for so long. So IMO your making other parts fail instead of the rods when modding a block from factory settings. Its all our own faults.
The thing with bearings is that there is more that comes into play than the rods. A strong rod will hold its shape very well. Bearings really come down to tuning (timing and knock) and lubrication (which starts with the passages)... and wear, which is indicative of the two aforementioned items plus mileage.
The case halves aren't weakened when you split them apart. In some cases, you may need to align hone, especially if using different bolts, but the case isn't getting any weaker because you split the block open. Unless there was a problem with the mains preventing oil from going into the crankshaft and to the rod bearings, there is no correlation between the case halves and the rod bearings.