Perhaps I posted in the wrong place. I'm looking to use 7.1" rods from Eagle as in Bruce Kents Engine Master engine,to cut out some weight. Are there any draw backs for a street/strip engine? Is a surface grinder the best way to remove the excess width, or a blanchard grinder? I've read on this forum that more rod side clearance isn't such a bad thing, what kind of clearance should I shoot for? What about bearing width, what do I do there, are there some that won't need modifying. If not how to do? I'm looking into Diamond pistons. Thanks Chuck
I can't answer for street/strip but, we used those rods with JE pistons, but we opened up the crank. I don't remember the tolerances. It worked though, and we took pounds out of the rotating assembly. 6,500rpm 14-1 circle track engine on methanol with no girdle. We put well over 500 laps on it this year with no issues. I'd like to show everyone our beehive spring setup but I have to figure out how to post a picture. This took over 2 pounds out of the valve train.
I'm pretty sure they are 6.0 liter Chevy springs and exhaust valves and 351 Ford intakes. Both are over size from stock and machine work was necessary on at least the intakes. There may be other ways to accomplish this, I don't know. It's not easy to do and the guy that did it for me wouldn't give me the part numbers. Advantages: seat pressures are light enough for cam break-in, it's light weight, and it's good to 6500rpm easily with solid lifters and about .530 lift. I've run this for 2 years without changing springs, over 1,000 laps. I'll try to get those pictures to you soon. Rastis, I didn't mean to get the post off base, I know guys on here have done it both ways with the rods and bearings. There should be some history on this if you do a search. Lots of guys are using Chevy rods.
