connecting rod strength

[Bain]

I've been searching for a set of connecting rods for my chevy 350 that I am rebuilding for strip use and if all goes well it should hit around 600hp however I am having trouble finding any rods that are rated to handle much higher than 500 for my engine. Summit has some for 600 that I could use but I would like to find some that are rated more toward 700 or more so that I won't need to replace them If I choose to take the engine further in the future. By the way they need to be pressed pin rods also all the high hp rated rods seem to be floats which I can't use with the pistons I have. As a side note I am seeing some that mention using some p-16 bolts to make them handle several hundred more hp. Would adding those bolts to the summit II rods do the trick for me? Thanks guys.

[RandomTask]

Eagle is generally a good brand I would use, go for an H beam rod for optimal strength. I'm not that fluent as you obviously are with connecting rods, but check out part no. ESP-6000B3DL19 at www.summitracing.com . Is that what you're looking for?

Joe

[Bain]

Close but not quite it has the strength I want but it is has the bronze bushing for float pin set ups which I can't use but thanks anyway.

[curtis73]

I think one of your problems is going to be the pressed pin. Its a less-desirable setup for ultimate strength. That's why the ratings for pressed-pin rods goes up to 600 or so and then the higher ones are all floating pins. Regardless of their ratings, I would prefer to see floating pins at that level anyway for heat stability.

I suppose you could sell your pistons and snag some that do floating pins, but you might lose some money, but at 600+ hp it will probably not seem like much compared to the whole budget

Not sure about the bolts. The proper bolts will surely strengthen up the big end of the rods, but the pressed pin will always limit strength up at the top. You're going to need a forged H-beam rod that has been given the full treatment; fractured big ends, shot peened, temp treated, and all the other goodies, you won't break it until well over 600 hp. At that point, your rods won't be the weak point anymore. After that level you're looking at maybe main web failure or crank failure. They are much more common than a broken forged rod at 600hp

Do a google for something like "used nascar parts". There is a place in SC that buys up used nascar parts like engines, suspsensions, seats, etc. Since they usually get limited use for one race and then the sponsor buys them new stuff, most of the used parts are very street-worthy. Maybe a call to them could get you some Ricky Rudd throw-aways that could take the punishment.

[Bain]

Yeah I figured that the floaters were probably the better set up after searching for rods but unfortunately I had already bought the set of pistons so I would rather not buy a new set. As far as selling them goes I'm not so sure I could find someone to pay enough for them since they are still new to make it worth while I guess I consider it though. Thanks for the tip on the used nascar parts though thats good advice I never would have thought of that.

[RandomTask]

Yeah, as curtis said, in Mooresville they hold auctions and sell excess NASCAR parts and such, might want to see about that...