[Singleton]

Saw these alloy rods posted on a Pontiac facebook site today.
Never knew Ansen made pontiac rods.
Someone pointed out that Bill Miller got his start at Ansen.
Anyone ever use a set?

[GoatZillaRacing]

I had a set of their Heavier Duty Standard looking Pontiac Aluminum Rods. I've never seen this style before.

[Half-Inch Stud]

alloy rods...

Steel, Titanium...come on those are not aluminum. I'm thinking BME only sells Rods made with their aluminum.

[Singleton]

Regardless of the material, just thought it was interesting that Ansen made pontiac rods. PY search function brought up no post ever mentioning it.

As far as BME.
“Miller worked at the old Ansen Automotive Engineering where he became familiar with Ansen-s aluminum connecting rod. The Ansen rod was a leading-edge design but had limited market success because the manufacturing was in Japan. In the early '70s, this arrangement didn't work well because lead times were months, sometimes even a year, and the company could not respond to market changes which occurred in shorter time-spans. Ansen eventually moved production back to the United States.
About 1974, Ansen changed hands and was renamed American Racing, but the new owner was interested mainly in the wheel business. Bill recognized the Ansen rod's advanced design and that it outperformed other aluminum rods. More importantly, he was convinced of its potential for market success now that production was on American soil.

These ideas in mind, and influenced by his experiences with the National Speed and Marine Top Fuel car, Miller decided to go into business making aluminum connecting rods for drag racing. Bill went to his new employer with an offer to buy the connecting rod business and finance the purchase through a split of the profits.”

Louis Senter, the “sen” in Ansen:
“In the early 1960s, Ansen Automotive was on the move again and relocated to a building that was constructed specifically for the company on Western Avenue in Gardena. Rapidly expanding, Ansen now manufactured their own forged-pistons and forged-steel rods. Tailored to the drag racing crowd, Ansen offered aluminum connecting rods and safety bell housings that eventually became mandated at all drag strips. Ansen’s piston department was sold to Nick Arias Jr., which became the Arias pistons known world-wide. Ansen’s rod department was sold to Miller Rods, which also became a big name..


https://www.rodauthority.com/news/le...es-away-at-95/

[Jack Gifford]

Thanks f'or the brief history.
That's the first aluminum rod I've ever seen using stock-style bolts. It certainly creates a lot of stress risers where the bolt head seats, compared with the usual tapped-for-cap-screws aluminum rods.
[crazy new/old contrast in the pictures- 12 point nuts on ancient bolts!]

[Half-Inch Stud]

Fantastic historical summation, and a nook of knowledge in Alabama too

[bluegoat65]

Originally Posted by Singleton

Regardless of the material, just thought it was interesting that Ansen made pontiac rods. PY search function brought up no post ever mentioning it.

As far as BME.
“Miller worked at the old Ansen Automotive Engineering where he became familiar with Ansen-s aluminum connecting rod. The Ansen rod was a leading-edge design but had limited market success because the manufacturing was in Japan. In the early '70s, this arrangement didn't work well because lead times were months, sometimes even a year, and the company could not respond to market changes which occurred in shorter time-spans. Ansen eventually moved production back to the United States.
About 1974, Ansen changed hands and was renamed American Racing, but the new owner was interested mainly in the wheel business. Bill recognized the Ansen rod's advanced design and that it outperformed other aluminum rods. More importantly, he was convinced of its potential for market success now that production was on American soil.

These ideas in mind, and influenced by his experiences with the National Speed and Marine Top Fuel car, Miller decided to go into business making aluminum connecting rods for drag racing. Bill went to his new employer with an offer to buy the connecting rod business and finance the purchase through a split of the profits.”

Louis Senter, the “sen” in Ansen:
“In the early 1960s, Ansen Automotive was on the move again and relocated to a building that was constructed specifically for the company on Western Avenue in Gardena. Rapidly expanding, Ansen now manufactured their own forged-pistons and forged-steel rods. Tailored to the drag racing crowd, Ansen offered aluminum connecting rods and safety bell housings that eventually became mandated at all drag strips. Ansen’s piston department was sold to Nick Arias Jr., which became the Arias pistons known world-wide. Ansen’s rod department was sold to Miller Rods, which also became a big name..


https://www.rodauthority.com/news/le...es-away-at-95/

"Word"

[straycat]

Thanks for the background info. I was lucky enough many years ago to sit in on a discussion some of the pioneers were having in the pits at the CHRR.