Aftermarket rods
 

While looking at both some Manley legal stock eliminator rods and some other brand, probably Eagle, but I can't be sure, I compared a small journal 327 rod with a large journal rod.It seemed to me that they were the same forging,the difference seemed to be the final size of the big end. This led me to wonder-- would the small journal rod be stronger around the bearing than the large journal rod? Would it stay rounder at high RPM and less prone to bearing spinning? How about taking a large journal steel crank and turning the rods to the small journal size and leaving the mains at the large journal size? The weight difference would be probably offset by the decrease in the journal weight, I don't know because I haven't ever tried to build a motor like this. Any thoughts from some of you experienced motor heads?('>')

Re: Aftermarket rods
 

Greg; The small journal rod is desireable but if the engine combo is large journal, the max u/s is .070. .100 under is not legal in Stock. TT

Re: Aftermarket rods
 

good question greg...are there any dangers involved turning a large jornal cast GM 350ci. rod to small jornal specs for a SS motor? less stress for a stocker?

Re: Aftermarket rods
 

Richie, did you mean turning the MAIN journals to the smaller size?? The larger rod can't be reduced to the smaller rod journal, unless you got blank rods and had the big end machined. That would give you more beef around the bearing on the big end of the rod, but the cost might not be worth just buying the quality aftermarket rod and be done with it.