Steel rods

hi,
is anyone using or tried using steel rods in a blown alky application? This would be a 1800-2000hp piece spinning about 9k.
thanks,
shawn

 

Used to tune steel chevys on alcohol that would turn 9000 plus. Can't imagine using steel rods though. Just my 2 cents.
Dale

 

1500 to 1600 HP with a Blown Alcohol Steel Rods Chevy is possible , we ve done that in Hydroplane Racing . 8000 to 8500 RPM . Do not know how far you can go with that in a Drag Racing application.

Serge.............

 

Common sense issue here. They don't make axes and hachets out of aluminum for a reason. (UB original)
If you have a steel rod failure for whatever reason, you might be lucky enough to save the injector.
BT/DT- the problem with getting old, you learn stuff the hard way.
Bob

 

Bob;

Are you implying that the aluminum rods will do less damage than steel rods upon catastrophic failure?

I was under the impression that the reason aluminum was used was due to its harmonic dampening abilities, removing some of the shock to the crankshaft.

I also thought it was used because it's simply a lighter material, thus allowing for higher RPM's without the rods separating as the piston is decelerated at TDC and accelerated to BDC.

Please correct and educate me if my impressions were wrong.

-WJ

 

Bob thats some funny sheet there,I'm nominating you for a stint at the comedy store!Let me tell you its always a pleasure to hang out and talk with you or even read your posts on this board.Ken Stelmasky

 

WJ,

I think most of what you just stated is also true of the aluminum rods.
I would call one of the major engine builders about the application. I am sure they can give you some guidlines and limits on the steel Rods.

 

WJ; you are totally correct, plus there are tons of real good reasons, but for the shock value, I just like people to think for themselves, and sometimes the truth can be shocking!
(Also fun, right Ken?)

And yes, that's exactly what I'm implying, you can throw away your aluminum ax now.

 

Reason i ask is that i've built 1800+hp w/big inch nitrous engines and steel rods before, without any issues. This is a Procharger f3r w/efi and alky. Not to be argumentative (i was the one asking the question) but i have taken plenty of engine's apart with broken steel rods and aluminum rods and have yet to see any verifiable difference in damage. Broken is broken. I can also say that i have never had a steel rod "fail". It's all been the results of the crank grabbing the rod via a bearing. I have seen alum. rods give up. Albiet after to many passes, or multiple tire shaking passes, but i have seen them break without the result of another failure. With that being said, I will probably just order a set of MGP's and be done with it.
Thanks,
shawn

 

Good conclusion.........and rod....I would suggest there ProMod rod.
........Blessings.........Ron Clevenger.

 

I have run Crower steel rods and crank in a 14-1500 hp blown alcy BBC with 25+ lbs of boost for 3 yrs running 8,000+ rpm in an altered. I have changed 2bent rods from a fuel pump going bad causing 2 cylinders to melt down and detonate. I left the rest of the rods alone (going on 3+ years with the same rods). Oh ya, the bearings have never been beat out either and I am not conservative with the timing. I am a true believer in Crower rods.

 

We Started Breaking Steel Rods When We Went To A Hi Helix, At 35 Over And Higher...... Bbc, Didnt Take Me Long To Switch To Aluminum

 

I've been running the Oliver rods now for 7 years. We've only bent one rod in 05 when we banged the blower due to a fuel filter element collapsing.

We run a 4.25" stroke up to 7600 RPMs.

At the end of season we have Oliver check the rods and recon if need be.

We're putting out around 1200-1300HP and looking to step up to about 1500-1600HP in '08.

At this point, I don't foresee us going to aluminum, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

 

hey guys who sells steel rods at the best price either crower or oliver thanx

 

What did you attribute the broken rods to? What type of rods were they? Were they knocking the bearing out of them first, then twisting apart? Did you change anything in the tuneup or just put aluminum rods in and it fixed it? Just curious.
shawn

 

I run steel rods oliver, 9000 rpm have not had a rod related failure so far......now where is that wood I need to knock on. Engine is a blown SBC 6.60's 203 top dragster.

 

what stroke thx

 

What stroke thx

 

. What brand of rods thx

 

Oliver.

Chris Saulnier - Team Tigges
Mechanic Falls, Maine