[Walt Fricke]

Stock bolts seem just fine in a 3.0 with a stock engine but aftermarket exhaust. I just saw a dyno sheet from one (Euro spec, meaning the big ports and 9.8/1 pistons) with 203 hp at the rear wheels.

I am pretty sure most of these engines used in Club Racing use the stock rod bolts. My US spec 3.0 does. Since there is no point in running these engines up to 7,000 rpm before shifting (my best shift point is about 6,300), I don't see where there is much reason not to use stock stuff.

On the other hand, if you go to carbs or EFI, big cams, more head work, lots of high RPM HP, and you drive it like that on the street, well that may be different. You should, with enough $, be able to pull 300 hp out of a 3.0. Of course those are maybe 100 hour engines, if that.

Hot is not exactly a precise specification. But my take would be that anything much over stock HP makes the peace of mind of better bolts worth considering despite the extra cost.

But the guys who build engines for a living will have a better basis for an opinion.

Walt