upper boost limit for stock MC-1 internals?

[JShadzi at aol.com]

All Audi I5 cranks are forged and use basically the same connecting rods, so 
you guys out there in 100hp 2.1 have more or less the same bottom end as a 
315hp RS2!

The TA motors were relatively simply by today's standard, they used forged 
pistons and conn rods, the cranks were machined from a billet, however, 
beautiful, we had 2 at Eurospec, very light.  

IME, the stock Audi bottom end is good to about 400hp where the conn. rods 
tend to begin rubberbanding a bit, and pistons can begin to get stressed.  
The only real reason to lighted the crank, or other parts for that matter, is 
if you are seeking for a motor that can rev, the TA motors had signigicant 
mods to allow them to rev to 8500RPM consistently, but overall the I5 is not 
a revving motor, it just won't spin smoothly to 10kRPM like you could get a 
BMW I6 to do.
Javad

In a message dated 6/14/2001 12:56:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
gerard at poboxes.com writes:

<< A few days ago I picked up a magazine called "Hot Rod" as it had a
 feature on metalworking, but in it they also had a feature on
 "performance V8 parts". In this one they were covering work on the
 crankshaft. Things like replacing it with a forged instead of cast crank
 from Crower, lightening the counterweights and the flywheel mount, tear
 dropping the oil holes and all that stuff in order to reduce weight.
 They then went on to using titanium conrods from Crower.
 
 The question that came to mind is whether the MC uses a forged or cast
 crank and what can be achieved using lightening methods on these cranks
 or whether it is a waste of money when you're not looking at 600-1000HP
 like these guys with the big ol' V8 machines.
 
 I recall something about the Audi 200 quattro TransAm car running
 titanium rods, but most of the rest of the internals were stock factory
 bits and pieces.
 
 How strong is the crank? As Yoda would say "get any stronger will you
 not".
 
 G.
 
  >>