Aftermarket rods

Greg Reimer 7376 · 02-15-2011, 09:24 PM

While looking at both some Manley legal stock eliminator rods and some other brand, probably Eagle, but I can't be sure, I compared a small journal 327 rod with a large journal rod.It seemed to me that they were the same forging,the difference seemed to be the final size of the big end. This led me to wonder-- would the small journal rod be stronger around the bearing than the large journal rod? Would it stay rounder at high RPM and less prone to bearing spinning? How about taking a large journal steel crank and turning the rods to the small journal size and leaving the mains at the large journal size? The weight difference would be probably offset by the decrease in the journal weight, I don't know because I haven't ever tried to build a motor like this. Any thoughts from some of you experienced motor heads?('>')

Tom Turner · 02-15-2011, 09:43 PM

Greg; The small journal rod is desireable but if the engine combo is large journal, the max u/s is .070. .100 under is not legal in Stock. TT

richie 2 · 02-16-2011, 09:09 AM

good question greg...are there any dangers involved turning a large jornal cast GM 350ci. rod to small jornal specs for a SS motor? less stress for a stocker?

Marvin Robinson · 02-16-2011, 12:37 PM

Richie, did you mean turning the MAIN journals to the smaller size?? The larger rod can't be reduced to the smaller rod journal, unless you got blank rods and had the big end machined. That would give you more beef around the bearing on the big end of the rod, but the cost might not be worth just buying the quality aftermarket rod and be done with it.

02-15-2011, 09:24 PM	#1
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,132 Likes: 172 Liked 698 Times in 216 Posts	Aftermarket rods While looking at both some Manley legal stock eliminator rods and some other brand, probably Eagle, but I can't be sure, I compared a small journal 327 rod with a large journal rod.It seemed to me that they were the same forging,the difference seemed to be the final size of the big end. This led me to wonder-- would the small journal rod be stronger around the bearing than the large journal rod? Would it stay rounder at high RPM and less prone to bearing spinning? How about taking a large journal steel crank and turning the rods to the small journal size and leaving the mains at the large journal size? The weight difference would be probably offset by the decrease in the journal weight, I don't know because I haven't ever tried to build a motor like this. Any thoughts from some of you experienced motor heads?('>')

02-15-2011, 09:43 PM	#2
Tom Turner Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lake Tapps, Washington Posts: 137 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Aftermarket rods Greg; The small journal rod is desireable but if the engine combo is large journal, the max u/s is .070. .100 under is not legal in Stock. TT

02-16-2011, 09:09 AM	#3
richie 2 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 967 Likes: 416 Liked 200 Times in 91 Posts	Re: Aftermarket rods good question greg...are there any dangers involved turning a large jornal cast GM 350ci. rod to small jornal specs for a SS motor? less stress for a stocker?

02-16-2011, 12:37 PM	#4
Marvin Robinson Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gary, IN Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Aftermarket rods Richie, did you mean turning the MAIN journals to the smaller size?? The larger rod can't be reduced to the smaller rod journal, unless you got blank rods and had the big end machined. That would give you more beef around the bearing on the big end of the rod, but the cost might not be worth just buying the quality aftermarket rod and be done with it. __________________ Marvin Robinson 3188 STK/SS