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#21307 11/18/2003 4:50 AM | | Anonymous Unregistered | | Anonymous Unregistered | I don't think they are worth the effort unless you need / want to change the rod length (stroker motor or moving the pin up on the piston).
If you go with new pistons from Ross or Arias and get your stock rods reconditioned (Speed-o-Motive is a good shop) you will have plenty of strength for reving to 6000 rpm (which will require a lot more than new pistons).
If you decide to go with aluminum rods you will have to grind notches in your cam shaft for clearance of the studs / end caps. You will also need to grind clearance on the inside walls of the crank case down where the pan meets the block for room.
Aluminum rods also flex more than steel rods and elastically stretch at high rpms a few thousands of an inch requiring much more attention in the combustion chamber to make sure you dont hit valves or have too small a quench area where collisions might also occur.
The highest stresses a rod sees are at the end of the exhaust stroke / beginning of the intake stroke (decelerating the piston at TDC). If the piston you choose is lighter than the stock piston . . . your stock rods will have significant margin for about any application unless you are shooting for race only performance. | | |
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