In my humble opinion there are not too many places for aluminum rods
other than a few selected applications where a little flex is desirable
to take the load off the cylinder walls. With the availability of new
stronger blocks and filling techniques the need for alloy rods seems to
be very small. They are cheap though not really that much lighter. The
rod of choice has always been a carrillo for me with crower as a second
choice. I have never broken one of either in my life. I have lost an
engine or two but not from a con rod failure. Have also had good fortune
with titanium rods but they are a pretty fussy thing to get them right
and are much less forgiving and harder to work with in general. But they
are light and very strong. If you need a set of rods for me you call
carrillo pay what they want and never think too much about them again.
Just the best overall solution. Along with that a real good crankshaft
that won't twist and flex like a pretzel is the next and as important
thing Moldex if you have the time,Crower is good for me also, we run a
Cosworth one which is a billet piece but it is a Cosworth engine also.
Pistons my favorite is JE but there are many companies that are also
good that I have not worked with. My plan has always been to find a high
quality company and stay with them through thick and thin and don't hop
around like you are at a buffet every time you need something. the other
thing not mentioned is as or more important. A good oiling system as in
dry sump and very high quality. Weaver for me. Never broke one yet.
Never had one fail. Just use the best that money can buy. best lines
real Aeroquip for me. Is for aeroplanes get it. I don't think i would
fly with a brand X look alike to save a dollar or two. I would not risk
me or my car either for a dollar or two. A friend lost a very nice 350
SBC the other day because a brand X hose end failed on the dry sump
system. Indy type car for new race series. Was way too busy driving and
in a few seconds engine was gone.
This is only my opinion and I may be wrong.... Your mileage may vary,
Not covered by FDIC...and all the other disclaimers...
Dave Dahlgren
Engine Management Systems
Chuck Rothfuss wrote:
>
> Jerry, Keith,
>
> Wasn't something said awhile back about aluminum rods stretching and
> whacking thing they shouldn't during sustained high RPM operation? I don't
> have to worry about that myself (No rods!) but I still have loads of
> clearances to check during engine assembly. Unless you like to build lots
> of short lived engines (Keith?) then it's best to put all the most durable
> stuff you can afford into it right up front. You need to find a balance
> somewhere between drag racing and NASCAR; Maximum performance with maximum
> durability. At least enough of each to break a record!
>
> Chuck "We don't need no stinking pistons!" Rothfuss
> ECTA
>
> >> On Thu, 8 Jul 1999, JERRY FOSTER wrote:
> >>
> >> > #1 Car weight. Do you build for super-light cars in the LSR business?
> >>
> >> There are two basic schools of thought in LSR racing. The "bigger hammer"
> >> racers do things like fill their frame rails with lead, and carry fifty
> >> gallons of water in the trunk, all in an attempt to gain traction. Others
> >> feel that a lightweight car that sticks to the track thanks to good
> >> aerodynamics will be quicker, faster, and ultimately safer. I belong to
> >> the latter group, as does my boss, Russ Meeks, whose Modified Roadster
> >> carries no ballast whatsoever.
> >>
> >> > #2 Engine assembly weight. Do you go with aluminum rods, small
> >> > damper/balancer, lightweight crank, etc,?
> >>
> >> That depends on what you want the engine to do. It's not a dragster, so
> >> some extra reciprocating mass may in fact be a good thing. Five miles is
> >a
> >> long way. Visualize yourself making a run on a track that long. Then
> >> contemplate how you would want your car to handle, and how its engine
> >> should respond. Think of what a flywheel does. Do you want more or less
> >of
> >> its effect?
> >>
> >> These differences in opinion are just more of the appeal of Land Speed
> >> Record racing. We get to experiment and play around more than any of the
> >> other racers.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >>
> >> Dave Mann
> >>
> >> Webmaster, Roadsters
> >> http://roadsters.com/
> >>
> >> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> >> | Dave Mann | Roadsters Advertising: |
> >> | Roadsters | Dave Rocha |
> >> | P.O. Box 67101 | (360) 835-8661 |
> >> | Milwaukee, OR 97267 | dirtno1@aol.com |
> >> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
|