[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

For some reason my experience has been the opposite on the Chinese stuff. The first set of Eagle rods we had in the shop were 100% failure. Couldn't use any of them. Sent them back, no issue. The next set had 2 in spec. 6 out of spec. Called and asked for a supply of dowels so we could take them apart, cut them, hone them and use them. Good experience for the students. They were pissed on the phone but after calming them down they sent a little cloth bag of dowels. This was 10-12 years ago. As time has gone along, the rods have been better and better but we check every one for size, out of round and taper. About 5% or so now still need some touch-up in the hone to really be right. They almost always measure small when there is an issue so very easy to fix. Haven't had to cut an eagle rod in several years because it was too big. Press fit small ends are particularly tight. There is just no way to install them as delivered. Often have .003"-.004" press fit. That's just too darn tight. You would have to heat the small end to bright blue to get a pin in. That;s not the right way to do it. We hone them to .0016-.0018 press. That works great. Different shops have different methods. Some even press in at room temp. I don't want to move any metal installing wrist pins. Been using Molnar products for 3 years now. Have not had to machine anything. Still check every part though.

Mike, Bud used to tell me “New does not mean good”. Just because a part or component is new doesn’t mean it complies to the desired specs. This is WHY I mic every part before it is installed in an engine. In the long run, it is cheap insurance.

[BILL BOWMAN1]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

Mike, Bud used to tell me “New does not mean good”. Just because a part or component is new doesn’t mean it complies to the desired specs. This is WHY I mic every part before it is installed in an engine. In the long run, it is cheap insurance.

I had a friend with a 540 Chevy, kept eating main bearings. Come to find out the brand new Eagle crank was bent.
CHECK EVERYTHING!! Especially brand new stuff!

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by BILL BOWMAN1

I had a friend with a 540 Chevy, kept eating main bearings. Come to find out the brand new Eagle crank was bent.
CHECK EVERYTHING!! Especially brand new stuff!

Precisely WHY you check every component
BEFORE assembling the engine.

[Gach]

Originally Posted by BILL BOWMAN1

I had a friend with a 540 Chevy, kept eating main bearings. Come to find out the brand new Eagle crank was bent.
CHECK EVERYTHING!! Especially brand new stuff!

Definitely the most critical check to Crank for straightness. Make sure machine shop asked to check.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by Gach

Definitely the most critical check to Crank for straightness. Make sure machine shop asked to check.

Gach, straightness, taper of the journals and journal finish are all equally important. We wouldn’t attempt to grind a crank that wasn’t straight.

[Gach]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

Gach, straightness, taper of the journals and journal finish are all equally important. We wouldn’t attempt to grind a crank that wasn’t straight.

Yes and a really good shop that knows to check it all.

[Gach]

This is crazy don’t laugh, had someone who bought a set of Crower billet Rods, packs everything up and off to be balanced. $350.00 for balancing. You ready gets everything back from balance shop. Then looks at the rods and noticed 2 of them are physically bigger, so obvious that he picks up on it right away. You mean you never noticed it before you sent them out…LOL then goes back to balancing guy and he says oh yeah your right. LOL then confronts guy he bought them off and he says oh I don’t know my mechanic package them up.. to funny. Then I say dude why don’t you get your money back, he says oh but he give me a great deal..LOL. Ok Mamaluke. Toooo funny.

Some times we think we are being helpful, in these post, but a Mamaluke just don’t get it and gets all offended.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by Gach

Yes and a really good shop that knows to check it all.

ABSOLUTELY!!

[R 70 Judge]

Originally Posted by BILL BOWMAN1

I had a friend with a 540 Chevy, kept eating main bearings. Come to find out the brand new Eagle crank was bent.
CHECK EVERYTHING!! Especially brand new stuff!

I had brand new Crower sportsman rods going in my 505 and they had to be resized. I was very disappointed. I fully expected their stuff to be spot on. Live and learn I guess

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by R 70 Judge

I had brand new Crower sportsman rods going in my 505 and they had to be resized. I was very disappointed. I fully expected their stuff to be spot on. Live and learn I guess

It’s pretty much typical of the the entire industry post Covid. Of course, we had the same problem with aircraft recip engine connecting rods forty years ago. Nine chances out of ten the rods were finish honed on a rod hone with a power stroking attachment; the problem with power stroking attachments is they generate so much heat into the rod that the rods should be allowed to cool before final sizing. Let me guess: the big end bores were tight?

[Gach]

Yeah its like you have go over everything with a fine tooth comb. Like a complete list to check, starting with the block especially the block.

[Gach]

Hopefully the aftermarket for Pontiacs will get better.