Connecting Rods

Blown7

Gentlemen, I am planning my next full blown 401 (a 8-71 w/ nitrous)and to save me some time researching some of my planned mods, in your collective opinion who manufactures the best AMC replacement rods no holds barred or cost? Only "H" beam will be considered. The next 401 I'm building is going to go to 15 lbs plus boost on the stock block and crank but I don't trust the OEM rods. No chevy replacements. No Chinese Eagle or Scat rods. Full American designed for AMC rods. (I'm a purest) Thanking you all in advance for your input. BTW I'm talking Nitro Methane. Jeff

jeepsr4ever

Boy thats a tuffy ...the only replacement rods I know of currently are the SCAT rods and yes they come with a fortune cookie. :-|

Lifted79CJ7

Didn't Maddawg Racing just come out with some new rods??

Blown7

I'm thinking Carillo right now, they have made AMC rods in the past. Jeff

jeepsr4ever

It probly will take a special order....hmmm I wonder if we need a set in the shop maybe we can order with you

jeep_man_401

You'll have to let me know what price you guys get for those. Here's a few pics from my current build...for the Huncho.

The rod... Bushed, drilled for pin oiling, APR rod bolts, polished beams and shot peened. :?

With 10.5 to 1 Keith Blacks and total seal rings.

A pic of the oil holes I had tapped and drilled. The guy build up the hole with some brazing before dilling and tapping to beef up the area.

The bare block...

Checking the crank scraper I ordered...not happy with the amount of clearance they give you between rods and scaper. You could drive a VW between the two. 🙁: I may check and see if I can get one cut here and grind to fit myself. Any body intrested in buying a few? Maybe you guys could design a better one. :lo1l: That leaves no clearance and the person must grind to fit!??

Degreeing the cam... :-|

What it's looking like now... :idea:

Now I have to get the push rods cut to length...have to figure that one out yet. :-|

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It's taking alot longer to do this one then what I thought. But than again I have been working 55 to 60 hours a week at work also, plus keeping 4 kids and a woman happy also takes it's toll on the "garage time".
I just keep hiding the billing papers. :t:

Blown7

Nice build Jeepman, stock rods? I called carillo today and custom H beams are 297.00 each, think I order a set Jeff

jeep_man_401

Yes. They're stock rods. Did the polishing myself and farmed out the sizing and bushing and peening. That's alittle steep for just rods I think... :shock: Although I did spend that on heads. What kink of HP and you going for here? They raced stock rods years back without much trouble. I hope you aren't staying with the stock oil pump and pan... I opened up most turns and passages for the oil in the block. I think the AMC suffers from lack of oil that causes some of these rod and crank problems.

Blown7

Well that what Carillo gets for custom rods that aren't listed in their computer, but you understand that those rods will take 2000-3000+ HP. Well the HP I'm looking for is just a number as all HP figures go, I was at my engine guru's today and watched him go plus or minus almost 100 hp just by inputing various conditions that the dyno sheet won't record, lost all my faith in dyno or any claimed numbers today, I guess I'll just stick with good old math PLANK formula's and pounds of fuel burned to get a approximate number. But what I am looking to do is Nitro Methane, first it's the easiest fuel to tune a engine to, gives relatively stable numbers repeatedly. But in doing the math today and looking at a stock AMC crank we have come to the conclusion that A 401 crank will not dependably hold over 1000 ( grin) hp for a extended period of time, the rods will work well but it doesn't do you any good if the cranks in three pieces. So now folks whats the best crankshaft no holds or money barred? BTW I have a Milodon 8 qt pan and Stock Bulltear oil pump Don't know who that Bulltear guy is but its still holdin up :t: . Why didn't you run a dry sump and eliminate the crank scraper and gain a few HP? Jeff

jeepsr4ever

Jeff yes the 401 crank breaks down fast around 800hp. ... and it really isnt trustworthy over that. Moldex cranks are the better way to go but they are constantly behind. Indy buys Moldex cranks are complain that they cant keep up with their 500CI engine builds. If you guys are pushing over 800 or reliability is a issue then a AMC block may not be the way to go.....sadly

jeep_man_401

Had a line on a dry sump sysytem from a old racer in Michigan. I called and talked to him but he didn't sound like he wanted to sell it. I thought about a dry sump but I figured after adding in the pan, pump, pulleys, oil tank and longer lines I was better off with the Indy pump. This will be a street driven truck also and a dry sump on the street is alittle overkill....but then 500hp is overkill also. Wait I need 500hp to haul leaves to the brush site. :mrgreen: The crank scaper I bought from a guy that cuts them in Florida. Some online company. Just thought they would be alittle better than what I got. #-o

Blown7

Ok this may be the way to go Indy block, Moldex crank, Indy heads, Carillo rods, JE pistons. Now is it technically a AMC???? http://indyheads.com/indyamc/crate-short.php And actually for the prices, maybe I will get a short crate block for the price and build from there. Are you a dealer MC? Jeff

jeepsr4ever

If your buying all that I could get it to you at a dealer price but we currently arent a Indy dealer. Technically it is a AMC...the block casting boxes were made from original AMC block that Herman lewis and J.T. Payton had made up and they sold these to Indy. Indy did alot of revisions on the blocks.

Blown7

K MC get me a price!

Mudrat

Blown7 wrote
Ok this may be the way to go Indy block, Moldex crank, Indy heads, Carillo rods, JE pistons. Now is it technically a AMC???? http://indyheads.com/indyamc/crate-short.php And actually for the prices, maybe I will get a short crate block for the price and build from there. Are you a dealer MC? Jeff

Can I borrow about 10% of your budget? Please :?

jeepsr4ever

Jeff what exactly do you need from Indy?

Blown7

MC I need block, crank, heads. Not sure on the size, probably the largest cube engine. I can't really tell from the site if the 500 cube is the biggest they offer or the Huge 600 plus. Mudrat for the budget now I gotta get more planes fixed. Jeff