1/2 and 3/4 are .017. 5/6 and 7/8 are .007. Is that too close for a steel rod??

1/2 and 3/4 are .017. 5/6 and 7/8 are .007. Is that too close for a steel rod??

I just checked my Pontiac heavy duty parts and specs book that I from HO racing and the smallest stock specs shown in the book is .012" (.014 +/- .002). I would say that .007" is too tight. Just as a comparison, my eagle rods had .030" side clearance.

.007" is tight, but I think you could get away with it.

.030" is loose, but fine if you can keep pumping enough oil.

Seeing as you have .017" and .007" with the same parts, I would make sure that your bearing chamfers are clearing the crank fillets.

It's possible the crank has been ground wider or the eagle rods have different widths, however those possibilities are rare.

-Rob

Make sure your bearings are going the right way. I had over .020 with my Scat rods.

Quote:

".007" is tight, but I think you could get away with it."

Jack, don't do it. .007 is way too tight. The side
clearance is to let the hot oil out of the rod.

Too tight and you will quickly overheat the bearing.

If the bearings are not limiting the clearance
you may have to have addition clearance ground on the sides of the rods to get the proper specs.

Don't wimp out now and do a half a$$ job of it.
Fix the problem. Tom V.

http://kurtsplates.homestead.com/files/UR2SLO.jpg

I took the # 5/6 piston out and removed the rods. I then put them back on the journal and torqued them to specs. I checked the clearence and it was .016 all the way around the rod. Before i was measuring the gap between the rod caps. Im guessing the piston was cocked in the bore a little closing the gap at the top?