ED, with all do respect, it is the same poison.

it is not

Yes it is. Just no breakout.

now your really off topic. Again, a comp engine isn't a bracket engine a mile! BTW, When was the last time you competed in comp?

quote:

Originally posted by 7065comp:
Yes it is. Just no breakout.

I slid across the line a lot more in Comp than brackets lol

OK ED, now I know why people on this forum sway from the topic. Still doing comp {FYI}! Come join us. Maybe you can learn how to be HUMBLE.

what part of the TRUTH and the FACTS don't you like?

This thread asks about aluminum rods in a bracket engine NOT a comp engine!!

also, #7065 has not competed in Comp since before 2008. Just saying.

People with his condition have no concept of humility.

I guess I'm wrong too. I have some of them Aluminium Rods. I'll run what I want where I want.

quote:

Originally posted by TheBlueTruck:
I guess I'm wrong too. I have some of them Aluminium Rods. I'll run what I want where I want.

How dare you .... lol

quote:

Originally posted by TheBlueTruck:
I'll run what I want where I want.

who told you that you can't?

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
Aluminum blocks, Aluminum rods, you throw everything in play, in a oven. Heat to operating temp, in order to come up with your clearances, tight clearances.

Funny, I never did that and my stuff came out spot on.. And neither does Pat Musi, Tracy Dennis (RIP), Sonny Leonard, Reher Morrison, Huntsville Racing Engines, Slatten Racing Engines, MadCap........List goes on.......

quote:

Originally posted by Coloradoracer:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
Aluminum blocks, Aluminum rods, you throw everything in play, in a oven. Heat to operating temp, in order to come up with your clearances, tight clearances.

Funny, I never did that and my stuff came out spot on.. And neither does Pat Musi, Tracy Dennis (RIP), Sonny Leonard, Reher Morrison, Huntsville Racing Engines, Slatten Racing Engines, MadCap........List goes on.......

I think they're using the same parts to duplicate
different engine configurations, and they know at room temperature, what clearances they need. How do they know? By bringing the parts in play for each configuration up to operating temp, enough times previously to know.

How do you think they know? Guess?

If you didn't check your clearances at operating temp, that's what your doing, guessing your clearances warm.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Rietow,

On the idea that an aluminum rod breaking at 7K+ RPM will do less damage than a steel one, I can't say. But I DO know the one that broke in my buddies engine destroyed a steel block, crank & camshaft quite effectively. And the piston it tried to launch into the stratosphere did a really good number on the head that was in it's path. Just saying, instead of using a soft rod to minimize the damage when it does break, my thought is "why not use a rod that is less likely to break"?

So I am still a bit fuzzy on the logic behind running aluminum rods in a bracket engine that would go 400-1000 passes between freshen ups with steel rods. (Again, talking about a typical BBC bracket build, not TAD/TAFC, or a Hemi, or "on the edge" combos with 6" stroke, or competing in a class where picking up .005 ET means everything, and you have the time, crew & money to freshen up with new rods every 40 runs).
Obviously a good number of guys do run AL rods. And naturally, the top builders in the country will gladly assemble whatever the buyer asks for.

I guess I could pose the question like this:
If you were buying a complete and highly competitive SC/SP engine from Sunset, Shafiroff, R&M, Madcap, Huntsville, SDPC, (or insert name of your preferred builder here), and money was no object, but you wanted to leave the bullet in the car for 2 years, perform what most of us call "routine" maintenance, (oil changes, lash adjustments, inspections and new valve springs each season), and run a full slate of brackets and Divisional/National events, (it is very well proven a mill with steel rods can do this). Is there any compelling reason to run aluminum rods? Any ET gain? Any possible gain in expected longevity? And if not, why opt for the considerable increase in both time & expense?
Not saying using them is the wrong thing to do, or that anyone currently using them should make a change. I don't have any master list of statistics to prove anything, but over the past 5, 10, 20 years, I have seen almost as many engines destroyed by a broken aluminum rod, than a steel one. (Maybe more). And I know for a fact far more are using steel than AL. But that is just the little slice of the racing world seen through my eyes. Some on here have undoubtedly seen different.
My friend is about to drop another $25-30K on a new piece, and while he has the coin to do whatever he wants, I would like to convince him that replacing rods, (or complete engines), should not be considered routine maintenance to run Super Pro brackets, or any .90 class competitively.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FootbrakeJim,

^^^^^Couldn't have said it better myself!!

Again, you know the answer to your question...there is NO good reason to run an aluminum rod in the engine you are talking about and every nationally known engine builder you mention along with others will tell you the same.

Name that rod lol....

quote:

Originally posted by TD3550:
Name that rod lol....

That would be a disconnecting rod........

quote:

Originally posted by TD3550:
Name that rod lol....

I'll give you one clue, which will narrow it down considerably, without naming the Mfr. - 5 letters or less. That leaves at least a couple really good makers to choose from.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320racer:
Again, you know the answer to your question...there is NO good reason to run an aluminum rod in the engine you are talking about and every nationally known engine builder you mention along with others will tell you the same.

Ed, I know what I myself would do. I will be turning 63 this month, and while I can and do still yank & replace engines, it is not something I go out of my way to do. My buddy is pushing 70, and I hate seeing him struggle with it, much less the disappointment on his face when this stuff happens. But it seems his opinion on connecting rod material is still held hostage by some article he read in a 1968 magazine article. I show him websites for the top builders, with their 800-1200+ HP 540-598 CID BBC's all using steel H-Beam rods. He counters by pulling up the same builders Procharged/boosted/Nitrous 632's with aluminum rods. I ask him if he plans to buy one of those, and he answers with "No, but they are more powerful engines, so the builder obviously uses the better rods in them". Sigh. I suggested he call a builder or 2 and ask for their recommendation, for the specific engine and usage he has in mind. Those guys are not only good builders, they are smart businessmen. So when a customer calls and phrases the question: "Can you build me one of your 565's with aluminum rods", of course they will say yes. Maybe seeing some comments on here (other than mine) will help convince him. Or maybe he will get tired of yanking engines. (Maybe not, since I am the guy who handles the under-car duties for him). I wish he would go back to a dragster.

"Mixed bag", best description for aluminum rods.

With a choice, definitely use steel rods.