It is the more desirable 350 rod that was used from 1973 up. It is stronger because it uses cap screw fasteners instead of nuts and bolts.
Have you tested them?:idea2: Dave (when he was still with TA told me the earlier 350 rods were actually stronger than the cap screw if you used ARP bolts. They got a bad name because the ARP bolts were not available early on. He also stated cap screw style tend to walk at higher rpm's.)o No: Bottom line, if you are that worried about the rods, fork out the cash for some top of the line...:3gears:
Yep I did, he said I'd be better off with earlier rod.:beers2: AT that point I figured it didn't matter, and ordered the arp bolts for my original rods.
There is a reason why everyone who is serious about the 350 uses capscrew rods. Darryl R. did the reasearch on the 350 rods way back and found that the capscrew rods were good within limits and the 68-72 rods were week: My favorite are the light forged Hershe rods, I know they will hold the roughly 1000 hp I plan to make. http://www.buickperformancegroup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5205&highlight=forged+350+rods There is another option for the 350 and that is the SBC eagle H beam rods in 6.300 with custom pistons. This is the cheepest way to build a strong light rod, piston combo for a 350: Engine builder Brian Leibee used an off the shelf Eagle rod at 6.300 long and had Ross make custom pistons for the application, after slight machining this combo has been track proven reliable and the cheepest option so far for forged piston and rods combo:The rod used for the Buick 350 is the CRS6300SLW http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...177&CtgID=8085 Just spoke to Troys Engine builder Brian Leibee and he said that it would be no problem to do another setup like this for someone. The rods are VERY slightly narrowed, bearing tang moved and stock buick 350 bearings are used, the piston is custom made anyways so no problem to go with the SBC pin diameter. Info on the pistons again: The piston builder Ross Racing Pistons. Job card # off the order sheet was 115793. Should help speed the process of ordering. Waited about 5 weeks. Pistons are a true flat top with 4 cc valve reliefs. Engine builder Brian Leibee with Leibee Precision Machine,Phone# 307-362-5049. Tell him Troy sent ya hill take care of ya. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=139310&highlight=casper
Well Jim B proved that that combo is good to over 550 hp NA, BUT Darryl R has the dyno proof of when they go and it is about 600 hp and 6200 rpms. I do think that the turbo and blower engines are not quite as hard on the parts as the NA engines at the same hp level.
Sure, take Darryl's advice over Dave's... HAVE YOU EVER MET DARRYL?:shock: I have met both, like them both. I went Dave (and I assume TA). I listen to guy's with dyno's.:laugh: :3gears: Take it the small block tech...
What type and size socket do you use to remove factory cap screws? I was tearing down the bottom end of my '72 block this afternoon, and the rods appeared to have cap screws (sorry, no pics). I have been google searching eg: "cap screw socket" and have come up with nothing.
