Rods

I've said it many times over... the best connecting rods are the OEM rods that came in the engine. Even if they were not floaters your can open them up and put the bushing in them. They all have the pee hole to lube the bottom of the piston, no aftermarket do that I have seen. They are all forged from old US steel. They are all bigger than needed. I used to run the light 273 rods in 360 engines in a dirt track car race engine at 7000 RPMs. If anything is hard on an engine it is a dirt track car for sure. Never had a rod break. No need for anything else unless you need to change the rod length.


The problem is the 3/8 bolts. New rods are so cheap it isn't worth doing OE rods any more.

FWIW I verify every rod by taking them apart, cleaning them, using my lube on the threads and then torque the bolts and verify the bore. I prefer the holes to be undersize. That way I finish them where I want them.