What kind of compression can a stock (rebuilt) 318 bottom end take before you start bending rods/hurting the crank? Sadly, the crank and rods are already balanced and installed, but the engine is still out. I ran across a set of pistons that would put my motor at ~11.2:1 compression, and im concerned about breaking stock castings.

Any Help is Appriciated,
Thanks,
Bill

Compression ratio does not matter in regards to parts breakage. What does matter is running too much compression and having detonation that will break parts. Unless this is a race gas/aluminum head motor, you need to rethink your piston choice for no more than 9.5-1 with iron heads. Look at Keith Black pistons site for a good choice and Summit sells them for under $275 a set for Hyperutectic cast pistons.

Hot Rod has an article where they got over 400 HP and over 400ft.lbs. torque out of a stock 318 shortblock. link:
http://www.hotrod.com/howto/113_004_318_small_block_build/index.html

I run my stocker motor with the stock 340 rods and cast 318 crank. I go thru the traps around 6800 rpm and never hurt the rods or crank