C.A.T.

["Puddles the Pontiac"]

anyone have any input on this company and their parts? thanks.

[rick840]

Their rods are actually pretty good. I've used both the H-beam and I- beam and they measue out good. All deminsions were right on anyway. The weights are kinda wide so it takes a bit to balance them. But honestly they weren't any worse than the Scat rods I've used in other engines. I would stay away from their roller tip rockers. I tried a set in a resent project and the ball pivots on 5 of the 16 would bind up causing the lifters to bleed down. They ended up flattening the cam for me. I've heard good and bad about the cranks.
Hope this helps, Rick

[Bruce K]

I have used their balancer (all black sfi with squared off shoulders) with no troubles other than the a/c pulley won't clear it.

Anybody try their manual flywheel?

["Puddles the Pontiac"]

the main parts i wondered about were their mech. roller lifters, flexplates and main caps, though i am interested in all their pontiac stuff for future builds. the prices are unreal, but i have always been tought you get what you pay for. on the other hand, i have learned from some that most lifters come from a few manufacturers and distributed by the big names. (comp, crane, lunati)

[Big Injun]

IMO the rods are the only product to consider.

[wheelspin]

I had a bad experience with their SFI flexplate. After screwing around with the starter backlash setting for months, I had to pull the trans :mad: and replace the Cat piece with a TCI unit, which solved my problem. The Cat flywheel teeth were machined in a "V" instead of the "U" shape, making for screeching engagement/disengagement.

Les

[PONTIAC DUDE]

item.

Not trying to whine or badmouth because I use there products. Still very few items choices for Pontiacs.
I have to return half the flexplates because of being well over .030 out. You can live with the .030 as most flexplates from the factory are out that much on a lathe.

I purchase 10 sets at a time and currently have a set of CAT rods that are .006 under. Round but undersize.

["Puddles the Pontiac"]

thanks for all your input. it is still very tough to find affordable pontiac performance parts. the market seems to be all out racing or resto sometimes. again, thanks to all.

[Colin]

I have one of their cranks.........looks nice. Had a machine shop check it out and all the journals checked out fine and the crank is straight. Balancing will probably be another story though. I have heard that they need mallory added to get them to balance......front counterweight looks too narrow so I figure mine will need mallory added just like the rest.

[PONTIAC DUDE]

Yes that was a Major issue with the CAT cranks. They need mallory to balance because of the undersize counterweights. Also check the thrust surface area for roughness.

Warning:

Found out that quite a few pallets of full floating CAT rods have hit the market and up to .009 UNDERSIZE.

The quantity count could run into the thousands. How many unsuspecting buyers of products unchecked will try and use them with damage resulting.

And not to say the product isn't a good product. I have used them in 550hp applications twisting 6700 rpm with heavy TRW pistons, And use them, just that somebody dropped the ball and slipped thru the line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jagtec1]

I had some CAT rods that the small end bushings were either not in right, or turned...they were all off on size...but that was after 40 passes at the track.

[63BIGPRIX]

IVE USED 10 TO 15 SETS OF THERE H BEAMS WITH NO TROUBLE AT ALL

[Bruce K]

Anybody use one of their flywheels? I bought one but have not installed it yet. Thanks all

[gobrdgo]

The flexplates are junk. my buddy had two crack, swapped in a TCI, end of his troubles. I'm done with CAT anything.