Torque Levels:
I think we are talking about different levels in terms of lower tq and thats my fault for not being more specific and clear. With big power you are always, at least I would, be keeping a cap on power down low @ low rpms where it serves no purpose. There is no point past a certain level. A decently sized compound setup with large injectors can and will make enough power to break stuff. It was not meant low torque levels like most would be thinking of that are running 160/30 and a 38r. Point being why beat up a engine with more power than can be put to pavement or whatever your use. Not to mention we are also talking about worked over stock rods not premium that can handle more power than any other part in the engine.
While I do not see lossing a block with all the work and prep that goes into the whole system as trivial maybe some do. I guess for some money grows on trees right next to the bush that blooms unlimited free time to work on their trucks. LOL But you can loose A LOT more than just a rod and block. The crank, head, cam, you name it depending how that thing lets loose you can basically kiss it all good bye.
As I see it and has seem to been shown thru the failures that have occurred the aftermarket rods go way past the strength of the 7.3 system as a whole. The rods will hold up past what the block and basically the rest of the system can take. IMO it then makes sense to see if there might be a lower cost option that would have the rods more evenly match up to the strength of the rest of the system for those not building all out comp setups.
If the proper prep work could be done to stock rods along with other work on supporting areas to reduce other stresses maybe a balanced system could be made and save a $1000 or more of cost. IMO I think when you stiffen a block up with things like: fill and plate or girdle which also aides the mains I think you also reduce the stressing on parts such as the rods. That along with using higher strength fasteners and studs such as ARPs kits. Fire ring with H11 studs to handle the higher and sharper CP the engine will see.
Then doing the small things that prevent those " OK Moth@!$#%#$^(@#%U#@" issues where one small little thing causes you to basically end up with a full rebuild.
Some being basic such as for instance: welding cooling jets to prevent them from dropping into the cylinder, Welding the cam gear on so it does not end up walking off.
Genie144,
Actually I had not though about the "doing it before or after" differences much before with shot peening and cryo. Off the top of my head I would have said before but I would have researched much deeper before having a clear position on it. I see the shot peening benefits, where cryo will be used, not so much for is deeper subsurface effects but for its surface layer effects. While cryo releases internal residual stresses as well as increases dimensional stability along with typical durability increases.. Shot peening effect of inducing compressive stress at surface levels which is where from what I can tell nearly all fatigue and stress corrosion failures originate. Polishing takes that surface to its final level. But again I would of course differ to someone that had a higher level of understanding of this. I can certainly see the possibly of some things being redundant and possibly counter productive.
Too bad that the balancing has to be done post treatment as I have dealt with treatments that could not even be marred let alone ground thru with cutting wheels. That would not be the one I guess for the rod or at least area where material removal has to take place.
Big Bore,
I was under the impression you were wanting to start to work thru idea to cover everything with this engine build and bouncing it off the choir so to speak. I was just trying to kick it off for ya with a initial list to generate some discussion that would hopefully be of benefit in terms of ideas to include/exclude from your build or confirm for yourself you had Is and Ts dotted and crossed. I do not want to side rail your thread with this stuff if its not of any benefit to ya.