Which Connecting rods?

[Trim'd Up]

Putting together a new motor over the winter and I am trying to decide which rods to use. I have a set of stock 502 rods with polished beams, shot peened, and resized with new ARP bolts in them. I can trade them and a couple of other spare parts I have laying around for a set of eagle H-beam rods brand new. Question is am I gaining anything going to the Eagles on a 650-700hp 515?
Thanks, Chad

[KENNYO]

I rebuilt my 502 rods. I think if I had to do over I would have bought the eagles. Then I would 've bought the crank and pistons and made a 540. Then the big heads........

[Trim'd Up]

I am considering that too Kennyo, but I already have the crank and about to have 2 sets of the factory rods both are already refurbished. Just wondering how they compare in strength to the eagles. I am confident if I stay in the stated hp range either will be fine but, more is always better. ;)

[KENNYO]

Factory rods are good if they were done right.

[Chris]

At 700 HP, I usually like to step up to the Manley's. I've heard lots of good about the Eagle and Manley and the stock rod is pretty good too when prepped correctly. Of the three, only the GM is going to be 100% consistent quality. You can find new Manley's for under $400.

P.S. Horsepower is less-significant than RPM. If you're looking to get 700 out of 502CI, that soulds like a 6400-6700 RPM motor.

[Geronimo36]

Pretty sure the stock rods are good up to 5800, 6k at the most.

[Chris]

Merc doesn't spin them over 5K.

[Trim'd Up]

I keep going back and forth on what I am going to do. N/A and on the lower end of the Hp spectrum or a low boost blower motor. I don't intend to spin it over 6k. I think GM performance rates the rods at 575 but I think that is more to do with the bolts that are included. The ones I have have the good ARP's and have been polished etc.

Chris where have you seen the Manley's for $400? The best I have seen is near $700.

[Chris]

I just picked up a NIB set on Ebay for $385

[YoungPerformance]

Personally, I wouldnt take the Eagles if you gave them to me. Get a set of the Manley's as Chris said or a set of H beam Scat's. I have run both to over 900 hp and over 6000 rpm with nofailures. With either rod, step up to the ARP 2000 bolts. Most come with the 8620(??) ARP bolts, but the ARP 2000 bolts are much stronger. They are about a $50-$60 upgrade, but well worth it.
Eddie

[Chris]

Oliver Billet..........

Another excellent rod, but getting expensive. That's the trouble- there's never a stopping point on parts cost. You can "a few hundred more" yourself from beer-budget to world-class pretty quickly.

[Geronimo36]

I agree. Some things are worth the expense. Connecting rods are one of those things.
Ed


I have the Olivers in both my engines. :)

[RedDog382]

I have the Olivers in both my engines. :)

Same here, wouldn't use anything less at the H.P. you are looking at. John Lingenfelter was a big advocate of the Olivers.

[Tyler Crockett]

The H beams are a stronger and way lighter rod. You will have to rebalance the crank with the H beam rods. The good thing is they are so much lighter you can drill the crank to balance not have to put mallory in.

[Mrhorsepower1]

I would also recommend the Manley H-beam rods or Callies also has a very nice H-Beam called the CompStar.

[Ratickle]

I vote for Callies or Olivers. Every Eagle crank and rod we've ever received has had to be re-honed, balanced, or machined. I think they cost less so the builders can charge for this. Maybe I'm just unlucky in this department though.

[Chris]

Carillo is as good as it gets. But they're very expensive- about $2K for a standard size.

[Mrhorsepower1]

Carrillo is the absolute best. A set is actually $2400.00 now. Oliver and Crower billet rods also are a top notch choice @ $1200.00 to $1400.00 per set of 8. For this application the Manley or Callies would be my choice for the dollar.

[Trim'd Up]

I'd love to use a set of Carillo's or olivers. Who is going to donate me a set? I just don't think a 650 hp motor need $2500 rods, and I can't afford them either. ;)

[Trim'd Up]

Well, it looks like I am going stroker. That Dean is a bad influence. Anybody need a crank and rods? ;)

[Mrhorsepower1]

don't blame me........I am just trying to lead you in the correct direction bro!;):biggrinjester:

[HotPursuit]

I'd love to use a set of Carillo's or olivers. Who is going to donate me a set? I just don't think a 650 hp motor need $2500 rods, and I can't afford them either. ;)

If you break a rod your going to spend way more than 1500 for a set of olivers!!
I have had Carillos fail. Olivers are doing just find no problems.:sifone:

[HaxbySpeed]

The compstars are a really nice rod for the $
Whatever you do don't use titanium rods, they seem to fail for no reason.. :huh::smash::D

[AGITATOR]

i run crower and if i cant break one no one can

[rockfish71]

650 hp or less 6000 rpm or less The stock 502 rods with polished beams, shot peened, and resized with new ARP bolts in them will work perfect.

[Ratickle]

650 hp or less 6000 rpm or less The stock 502 rods with polished beams, shot peened, and resized with new ARP bolts in them will work perfect.

Key being 6000 RPM or less. If you don't have a RPM chip, forget it.

[WeaponX]

i run crower and if i cant break one no one can

I had one let go. Went to Oliver after that one.

[Mrhorsepower1]

Anything can fail if clearances are not fitted properly. The question here is what rod will best fit his application. Everyone has different budgets.....yes of course Oliver, Carrillo, and Crower are some of the best rods on the market and I have used a ton of them over the years. For this gentleman's horsepower range and price, Callies CompStar or Manley H-beams will fit the bill perfect. And most of all when set up correctly, will run for many, many years.

[Raylar]

Dean is right on here!
When you consider what you will spend to take a stock set of even dimple big bolt GM forged rods to resize, new ARP bolts, polish and shot peen you will spend almost what a new set of lighter, much stronger H-Beams (Manley, Callies, Scat) will cost and you're way ahead in strength and reliability.
Raylar uses these H-beams up to 850HP with absolutly no failures! Remember also that generally when a rod fails you will usually loose a crankshaft and sometimes an entire block. Its not worth the gamble, go new H-beam rods and sleep peacefully at night!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

[Bertram38]

Ditto

Carrillo is the absolute best. A set is actually $2400.00 now. Oliver and Crower billet rods also are a top notch choice @ $1200.00 to $1400.00 per set of 8. For this application the Manley or Callies would be my choice for the dollar.

[Pro1]

Oliver 6.70 rod 572's

[Chris]

The compstars are a really nice rod for the $
Whatever you do don't use titanium rods, they seem to fail for no reason.. :huh::smash::D

Titanium is very much more fatigue resistant than steel. But if you as much as scratch it, you might as well feed the whole motor to the scrap furnace. A nick in a Ti connecting rod is a swift death sentence. They can easily be polished out.

[AIR TIME]

Putting together a new motor over the winter and I am trying to decide which rods to use. I have a set of stock 502 rods with polished beams, shot peened, and resized with new ARP bolts in them. I can trade them and a couple of other spare parts I have laying around for a set of eagle H-beam rods brand new. Question is am I gaining anything going to the Eagles on a 650-700hp 515?
Thanks, Chad
hey if your looking for that 700hp, talk to DEAN about his ported intake and custom carb. I have the carb just had to hold off on the new intake cause Dean is building me a 1050hp 572 blower motor. next fall I am sending him my 509 to do the intake and maybe cam and see if everything is ok with it its been sitting for two years with about 50hours on it.I have about 670 hp now with the new carb , before it I had 650hp on a dyno. and it would be worth having him balance and do the machine work and assmble it , my buddy bought the twin motor to what I have from someone else and it blew with 5 hours :ack2:mine was apart when I bought it so I sent it to DEAN After talking to gerry knot right Dean helped him with his 1200s before he went to TURBINES:sifone: 1800HP:26:

[MERPerformance]

Hope it's not to late to answer you question on rods. These rods are $880.00 they will take 1000 hp + american made, I beam, Save 50 grams over Oliver and about $450.00 on the resale level. You will save at least 100 grams over an H beam.


Call Howards Racing Components 920-233-5228 ask for Robert or John tell them I sent you.