change rod bolts without splitting the case?
 

Anyone else do this?
My independent repair guy did.
I have the receipt.

I've done it on VW air cooled without any issues. The only concern is correct seating of the bolt's spot face.

Yes it can be done.

Yup, over-revved a 2.2 years ago, my mechanic did the heads and pulled the rods without splitting the case. As I remember, it was a non-issue, standard procedure.

I pulled two of six bearings to check journals on my top end job. Just replaced the four rod bolts as they are stretch bolts. Access is not that bad.

This is of no real value, but on (non P-car) clapped out, low dollar cars that have some rod noise, I will replace the bearings with standard bearings, clean up the journals if bearing material has transferred and use the same bolts, torquing to the ft pounds they released at. $100 parts job including oil change and pan gasket. The journal condition will advise if worth the effort.

Don't do this with your Porsche. It's not respectful. Change the bolts. :-)

YES very simple even i could do it. place bolts in the bottom part of rod, place on journal rotate around, then the have someone undernearth the engine (with engine on the stand), hold the bottom end of the rod onto the journal with a long srcrew driver. guy on top adds top section of rod and tightens. its a little harder to torque the rod bolts because the crank can rotate. must clamp the crank or flywheel to do it, and move it for each rod. just did my 3.2 no hassles frank

I'm right in the middle of my teardown and I'm going to do the same thing. I will send my rods out to be rebushed and checked that the big end and cap are in spec. I will be using the ARP rod bolts which I will be sending to the machine shop with the rods. New bearings on the hopefully in spec journals and job complete.

thanks guys

Yes, we do these all the time.