chevy 400 stocker rods

[one pontiac]

Can Chevy 400 rods be prepped to live in a stocker. Estimate below 7000 rpm.

[Jeff Lee]

You can buy SBC aftermarket rods that are far better and lighter than OEM for not much more than what is needed to prep an OEM set for what your looking at. Why risk it?

[Glenn Briglio]

plus 1

[Alan Roehrich]

Unfortunately, there are only two NHRA accepted rods, an Eagle H beam (heavy, 35 grams over minimum, and relatively expensive) and a Manley (I have had bad results dealing with the company, but their rod is light, 56 grams under the minimum, and they seem to hold up well, I do not know what they cost). I had never thought about it, but Eagle does not offer a 5,565" SBC rod in their SIR line.

I do not like stock 400 rods at all, they are fairly prone to breaking or at least getting out of round on the big end.

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Unfortunately, there are only two NHRA accepted rods, an Eagle H beam (heavy, 35 grams over minimum, and relatively expensive) and a Manley (I have had bad results dealing with the company, but their rod is light, 56 grams under the minimum, and they seem to hold up well, I do not know what they cost). I had never thought about it, but Eagle does not offer a 5,565" SBC rod in their SIR line.

I do not like stock 400 rods at all, they are fairly prone to breaking or at least getting out of round on the big end.

I would go with the Manleys and contact NHRA about the situation. As NHRA has approved the part already, I would say there's a very good chance they will amend the weight allowance. Despite what many think, NHRA is very helpful and understanding in these situations. I would also look at other rods to show NHRA at the same time that may be more to your liking and / or budget.

OEM rods just aren't designed to hold tolerances at 6500+ RPM. The big end becomes oval which squeezes the bearing at the parting line and bearing or engine failure results. Been there. The old alternative was to finish the big end with the hole out of round, semi-elliptical, so it would stretch round. I've done that also. It's a band-aide and not a very good one.
Best thing that NHRA allowed was aftermarket rods. Well...I guess there could be plenty of debate on that! Save yourself a major head-ache and go with something designed for race cars. Not station wagons and trucks!
Good luck.

[Bub Whitaker]

Originally Posted by Glenn Briglio

plus 1

Plus 2 Glenn

Jeff, your correct about the ovaling and the fix for it, use to do it for modified / gasser Volkswagon engines that went to 8000 with stock rods. Resized them with a C clamp on them and when the clamp was off, they were .002 out of round. Lots of taper in the bearings I used, but they made it live...
Also about the weight.. I don't think Nhra cares about the weight as now they are weighing the assembly so just make sure it all adds up...

[Alan Roehrich]

NHRA accepted the rod at that weight. Since they weigh the assembly now, it doesn't matter what the individual parts weigh, so long as they add up to the correct weight or more, and they are approved parts.