Lets talk connecting rods

[hotrod 80]

Ok , I haven't updated my project thread because I have been racing and had 3 motors in and out of the truck in the last 2 weeks . I just bought a SHP block and have a 3.875 stroke crank . I have not bought pistons yet . I am planning on a 6 inch rod . I have carillo H beams and crower sportsmans in 2 other motors and im looking for suggestions . I looked at the callies and the Lunati rods . I also have 4 Olivers . All the rods look the same to me . Looking for a good quality rod , preferably American made , that will tolerate what im doing . Something like 650-700hp on motor . Shift at 7000-7200 . No more than 250 shot .

[Marv D]

I don't think you have much choice but to use a 6" rod. The crank counterweights force a high pin location,, = a 6" rod. A little piston rock at TDS is the tradeoff, but yu typically get a lighter piston which is a big + above 7000.

The Lunati is not the quality of the old LAD1 Lunati ProMod rods of the early 2000's. I burned one in the truck motor about 5 years ago,, ended up selling the 7 good ones and buying a new set of Olivers. The Olivers are good to 1000HP and I know one engine builder that uses them in his 9500RPM 1000HP heads-up SBC's. For the small $ over a lesser rod,,they are good insurance IMO.

Everyone is making a cheap line of rod these days,, Just be aware the lesser line and the better line MAY be the same rod.... just more attention to final finish, fit, xx-ray, inspection, re-inspection..... It's like SRP and JE,,, One is tooled to 0.0001,, the JE is diamond finished to 0.00005.

If the 4 Olivers you have are new,,, I'd order the other 4 and never blink an eye. 800+HP boosted @ 7500 deserves the BEST rod you can find IMO. I don't know that a used Olivers out of a comp eliminator motor is it??,, but if you know what abuse the rods may have seen,, having them X-rayed and checked is a hell of a lot cheaper than new obviously.

[hotrod 80]

The 4 I have are in great shape I have 7 , but 3 are questionable . I think I can buy them new for around $230 each . That around $900 for a set of killer rods

[Super73]

For what it is worth, I have had Callies Compstars in my 418" motor (4" stroke) since I built it. They are a 6.125" rod

Guessing they have seen a true 1000hp at the crank
Have had regular 7,200rpm shifts
Occasional 7,500rpm shift
Very rare 8,200rpm rev limit hit in the burn out box when I haven't driven the truck in a while

[hotrod 80]

OK , really want the conversation to continue , but I called oliver and have boxed up the 7 rods I have . For $75 they will inspect them and clean them and also let me know what it will cost to make a complete set . Still oliver cant be the only game out there . I also looked at the callies compstars . Look like good stuff for this 414 /415 build