So, as I continue to pack and prep for my upcoming move, I was putting my dragster back together-ish for transport. There were still three piston and rod assemblies sitting on the floor, so I decided to check something. More of a curiosity thing but still.....anyway, I weighed two rod and piston assemblies. Gibtec pistons, pins, and total seal rings, MGP aluminum rods. Total weight for two assemblies was 3250 grams. Then I decided to weigh my new pistons and hardware, and going off the advertised weight of my new rods, compare the two. Believe it or not, there is only 225 grams difference between my new stuff and my old stuff. New stuff will be Molnar power adder plus rods, and JE pistons. I could go with just the power adder rods, which are about 60 grams lighter than the power adder plus rods, but I already had pistons made for the other rods.....that's 8oz which is a lot, but honestly I thought it would be more.......

Molnar’s country of origin is the same as Manley, scat, eagle, compstar.

NO professional engine builder or racer install any of these rods in a race engine because they are better than a rod made in the USA

Actually Ed, there are many professional engine builders that use his rods, and I know of more than one that prefers them over the Callies rods and others......

Not trying to start an argument of any kind, but your statement is factually wrong....

Mark, it’s your engine, just telling you incase you didn’t know. That said, I wouldn’t use an engine builder that prefers Chinese rods over American made Callie’s Ultra rods which have become the go to rods in bracket, TD, TS and throttle stop engines and this statement is factually correct and so is my previous statement..

NO professional engine builder or racer install any of these rods in a race engine because they are better than a rod made in the USA

Believe it or not, I actually called Callies on those rods. They did not and won't make them in the length that I need or I would have ordered them. I did consider Carrillo, but at nearly $5k for a set, I just couldn't see spending that much money on a set of rods....

Now if I could run the 7.1" rods, I'd be set, but the ring pack on my pistons is already as high as it can go...the pin goes to the top of the oil ring groove....so that's out.....I wish they made a 7" though.....

Could you not offset the bushing in the rod to go 7 inch?

I'm at 7" now Vern. Running 7.1" isn't a good idea considering I run nitrous as well....it puts the ring pack too close to the top of the piston.....If I was na, I'd do the longer rod in a heartbeat.....

I meant to offset the bushings to go down to 7 from 7.1

Not sure that can be done Vern, that's a lot of material to move....then another issue pops up with the top of the rod and underside of the piston clearance....No worries though, parts are in boxes until after my move....so nothing is going to happen until then.....

Hmmm, I'm just going to leave this here.

Callies Imports rods from China, see below.

https://www.importyeti.com/com...performance-products

Sunglory Performance Parts
6 Long Tan Rd Nanchang Economy & Tech Zone

Racing Car Engine Connecting Rods, Racing Car Engine Bracket, Connecting Rod, Connecting Rods

H.S. Codes: (8511.90, 8409.99, 4013.10, 8412.31)
See all bills of lading with this company

Yes they do, their compstar line

I don't actually believe JUST because they aren't made in the USA, they are junk. If the stuff is made in a nice place with the proper steel and equipment, and thoroughly checked, it should be just what the manufacturer says it is. That said, I'm not talking about the guys on tiktok in Pakistan making rods in bare feet.

Bob, the manufacturer whose name is on the box no mind you has anyway of knowing the quality of steel this junk is being produced from, there is no on-site American inspector verifying it as well the QA/QC. That said, if that’s not an issue for you, that’s your choice, your engine, your $.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
Bob, the manufacturer whose name is on the box no mind you has anyway of knowing the quality of steel this junk is being produced from, there is no on-site American inspector verifying it as well the QA/QC. That said, if that’s not an issue for you, that’s your choice, your engine, your $.

I have Olivers in my good engine.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
Bob, the manufacturer whose name is on the box no mind you has anyway of knowing the quality of steel this junk is being produced from, there is no on-site American inspector verifying it as well the QA/QC. That said, if that’s not an issue for you, that’s your choice, your engine, your $.

You should post up the brand of rods your engine builder put in your high-dollar smoke machine when it blew the bottom out of the "best appearing car" you had to buy to have. As if it had anything to due with you....

I disagree with Chinese quality control. It has come leaps and bounds over what it used to be. Especially if you use an ISO certified supplier.

At my previous job, we imported supplies and parts from China, Italy and Australia.

Then use it in your junk! I am very familiar with Chinese “quality” and it is abysmal!!

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:

I Know. I try to do the right thing lol. They are the older ones I believe. Made in 09. Probably only 400 runs total on them.