Which Connecting Rod For The Job?

[TriniGT]

Well I am in the process of building an RB26DETT and looking for a reliable 500-550HP build for weekend running. I have spent a bit but for the power I am looking at I am thinking about my rods, thinking about stock GTR rods and ARP rod bolts. What do they compare to cheap Eagle rods and which one would be the better option. Right now I am not ready to spend $1100USD on Carillos for my 550HP build but any advice is welcome. Have been told the stock GTR rods with ARPs can more than do the job.

[R31Nismoid]

stock rods will hold 400rwkw without even an effort.

The key is GOOD rod bolts and a well assembled/balanced motor. People have made more than that power on stock rods, but either way it is more than you are after so go that route.

Get them checked of course to make sure they are in good nick.

whoever told you they are fine - was spot on the money

Save the $1100, spend it elsewhere

[The Dan]

Well I am in the process of building an RB26DETT and looking for a reliable 500-550HP build for weekend running. I have spent a bit but for the power I am looking at I am thinking about my rods, thinking about stock GTR rods and ARP rod bolts. What do they compare to cheap Eagle rods and which one would be the better option. Right now I am not ready to spend $1100USD on Carillos for my 550HP build but any advice is welcome. Have been told the stock GTR rods with ARPs can more than do the job.

Any rod on the market will be ok for the job. Factory rods included. All it takes is a shithouse tune to bend or break them. $5000 rods or $500 rods, they can all bend.

Focus more on getting the right tune

[The Dan]

Make sure you get them resized when the new rod bolts go in

[TriniGT]

Thanks guys .

[rob82]

Any rod on the market will be ok for the job. Factory rods included. All it takes is a shithouse tune to bend or break them. $5000 rods or $500 rods, they can all bend.

Focus more on getting the right tune

Typical engine builder blaming bent rods on a bad tune!!!! In an Rb26 you would bust pistons (even aftermarket) well B4 you bend those little rods (even the factory rods).

[The Dan]

Typical engine builder blaming bent rods on a bad tune!!!! In an Rb26 you would bust pistons (even aftermarket) well B4 you bend those little rods (even the factory rods).

Well I'm not a typical engine builder but whatever man, you must be right.

There's no such thing as detonation. Or incorrect throttle pump settings causing hydraulic lock of a cylinder.

Yep, factory rods can withstand all of that. And guess what, it's always the engine builders fault. He snuck in a packet of detonation when he was putting the engine together.

[TriniGT]

Hmmm another post gone wild!!!!

[rob82]

Well I'm not a typical engine builder but whatever man, you must be right.

There's no such thing as detonation. Or incorrect throttle pump settings causing hydraulic lock of a cylinder.

Yep, factory rods can withstand all of that. And guess what, it's always the engine builders fault. He snuck in a packet of detonation when he was putting the engine together.

I was just taking the piss mate!!! Sounds like you need to get your tuning done elsewhere tho. Mate if he hydraulic locked an engine due to throttle enrichment he must have been using like 2000cc/min injectors with a chamber volume of like 40cc. You could be 10degrees past MBT and still not bend an rb26 rod - you will however be replacing the pistons!!

Edited October 15, 2009 by rob82

[NickR33]

I've bent a standard 25 rod... had an arias forged piston on top of it, piston looked brand new but rod, bearing and even crank were fubar

that said the standard 26 rods have been in the R for many years pumping 360rwkw... just had a bottom end rebuild due to spun bearing, rods and pistons were in top condition just resized them and chucked them back in

[The Dan]

I was just taking the piss mate!!! Sounds like you need to get your tuning done elsewhere tho. Mate if he hydraulic locked an engine due to throttle enrichment he must have been using like 2000cc/min injectors with a chamber volume of like 40cc. You could be 10degrees past MBT and still not bend an rb26 rod - you will however be replacing the pistons!!

All good.

No need to change tuners though. Have found the ones I will be using from now on http://www.efiperformance.com.au/

I don't tune as I don't have a dyno.

You may or may not have misunderstood my previous post, though. I wasn't saying that a tuner will bend a rod, what I was saying is that it doesn't matter how many dollars he pours into an engine, it only takes one bad 'tune' (or state of tune - to clarify) to destroy an engine....and no amount of forged parts will save it, they just put up with it for longer before letting go.

As for bending rods by detonation...very hard or near impossible as, yes, it will tend to destroy the piston first...but it can bend gudgeon pins and I have seen it a couple of times. Think of the rod bending as an after effect of the engine failure caused by error in 'state of tune'

[Angus Smart]

Pauter machine..

Right now spending 1000usd is a good thing with the current rates

[V-Spec]

shot peening

[maximajim]

What's shot peening going to do when the rods are bending but not breaking?

[Cjmartz2k]

Trin, what ever happened to the neo?

[Swiper the Fox]

What's shot peening going to do when the rods are bending but not breaking?

sfa

[UWISSH!]

mate im gona have a set of pauter x-beam rb26 rods available tomorrow if your interested. they are brand new, have only sat in the engine

probly sell for $650 plus delivery

also have arp rod blots with them

pm me if your interested

[Guilt-Toy]

anyone notice a trend here?

[STATUS]

I've bent a standard 25 rod... had an arias forged piston on top of it, piston looked brand new but rod, bearing and even crank were fubar

you spun it too hard.... or making stoooopid power.

[TriniGT]

Trin, what ever happened to the neo?

Boy believe it or not, I did all the work on the intake side to adapt the RB26 throttles and seeing as I had to use the different set of cam caps I cannot find a local shop to tunnel bore the setup. It is just sitting there watching me everyday. If I can get someone to do the tunnel bore for me that would be great help but there is currently no one local or even in the caribbean that does the job . I haven't given up hope on the project but this RB26 build is for my S14.5 build that has been ongoing for the past four years, yeah seriously. My ER34 is my daily so wanted to have no downtime or as little as possible by doing everything on a separate head and block and swapping it all over. Still having hope but if I can do a setup like what RIPS did and customize the lower RB25 plenum to have the RB26 setup working then I may go that route but I may have to buy a head locally whenever it pops up. Shipping a head out of country I am sure will be very expensive and I would want to have everything done to it, like replace guides, seat valves, tunnel bore cam journals, test head for cracks and other small things same time. Will let you know how it goes.