From the book; How to build Max-performance Pontiac V8s, authored by Rocky Rotella:
Quote:
Original Pontiac Rods
Cast connecting rods are very cheap to produce. Cast iron is generally very strong up to its elastic point, but tends to shatter once surpassed. A properly designed cast connecting rod can provide a long service life if an engine is operated within its intended limit, making it ideal for production engines. Steel forgings are durable but somewhat expensive to produce. Heat treating to a specific hardness is required to survive the greater inertial forces associated with power increase and/or high engine speeds, making it even more costly.
Depending upon the year and/or engine application, Pontiac used cast or forged I-beam connecting rods. A lowgrade forging with minimal heat treating was used early on, and it wasn’t dimensionally stable. During the 1960s Pontiac introduced a strong cast unit constructed of Armasteel, a GM trade name for a pearlitic malleable iron alloy that possesses some steel-like qualities. Because of age, stability, and durability concerns, I strongly feel that neither of these original Pontiac rods should be used in any high-performance engine.
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Link to connecting rod article:
https://www.pontiacdiy.com/connectin...c-v-8-engines/
Likely all you need to know about Pontiac passenger car connecting rods, (cast, and low heat treat forged) and whether it's practical to use them in a build under 600HP. The author says that it is possible, but taking a large chance to use either in a high performance build taking into consideration that no one has any idea of the history, number of cycles, quality of the original materials, how many times they may have been reconditioned, etc.
The NASCAR 421s were only making about 465 HP back in 62 so they weren't making what a hot street engine is now, they were naturally aspirated. Hot street engines now are subject to NOS, blowers, and turbos and a lot more connecting rod stress. What happened in NASCAR in 1962, and what goes into a 600 HP plus street engine today is apples to oranges.