[mrennie]

You need to calculate the pin height and make sure that the rings will be in a reasonable location with the rod length you will be using. You don't want to pick a rod/stroke combo and then order pistons and find that the oil rings are encroaching on the pin bore. I agree that they may be the last thing to order but you want to have a rough idea that your plan will work before committing.

[dataway]

For when things get real tight ....
This situation was fixed in the next job card .... smaller ring pack

[63gpman]

Good point about the rings. The pistons I am looking at for this combo are these from Race Tec.

463 4.185 0.033 4.210 6.625 1.470 12.2 11.2 10.5 -3.8 537 1000582

with a 6.660 rod, it would move the pin up .035, but would gain some of that back when trying to get to .000 deck with the pistons. I'll check with the manufacture to see how far away the pin is from the oil ring lands.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Don't you mean a 6.625 c-to-c rod? Those .005 matter...

[HWYSTR455]

Rod angle comments were my understanding as well, when it refers to longer stroke and rods.

.

[63gpman]

Maybe I am missing it. I am looking at a set of 6.660 rods

http://www.ebay.com/itm/H-Beam-6-660...dWltre&vxp=mtr

[54nomore]

That's a really odd length for a BBC rod but it should be perfect for your combo. The extra .035" should theoretically give you Zero deck with the 1.470" pistons. Speed-pro pistons for 455's come in 1.497" and 1.500" and have .008" and .005" deck clearance respectively. Even at 1.470", the pin will not be into the oil rings at all.

[54nomore]

Previous comments based on factory 4.210" stroke, of course.

[54nomore]

Re-reading through this thread, I just noticed one possible issue. The rods are setup for .990" pins and I'm assuming the pistons are setup for .980" pins. If so, you would have the added expense of re-bushing your new rods.

[63gpman]

I need to check with Race Tech, but believe that their stroker 1000583 piston may have a .990 pin. I am waiting to confirm that. They will make the change to a .990 pin, but if I want them to do that and CH change, it would be considered a custom piston at that time. So one change is ok with Race Tech from what I understand from their off the shelf pistons, but two changes makes it a custom and cost a bit more than the off the shelf??

Maybe someone here that sells them can inform. Also, I will be looking for a vendor for them.

[ponyakr]

"...eBay connecting rods are almost certainly generic Communist Chinese junk..."


Glanced back thru the thread and didn't see that anybody has actually used any of the Speedmaster brand rods.

Since they are a bit less than half the price of RPM H-beams, it would be good to know if they are decent usable rods, or total junk ???

Hey, they're nearly a hundred bucks cheaper than the RPM 5140 rods. So, it appears that either these are total junk, or RPM is making a big profit margin on their rods.

So has anybody used 'em--or even checked a set ?

While on the subject, the Eagle rods are higher than the RPM rods, but lots of Pontiac engine builders say that the RPM rods are good. So, for those who don't consider all Chinese parts junk, are the Eagle rods actually any better than the RPM rods ?

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by 63gpman

Maybe I am missing it. I am looking at a set of 6.660 rods

http://www.ebay.com/itm/H-Beam-6-660...dWltre&vxp=mtr

Stock Pontiac connecting rod length is 6.625" center to center.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

"...eBay connecting rods are almost certainly generic Communist Chinese junk..."


Glanced back thru the thread and didn't see that anybody has actually used any of the Speedmaster brand rods.

Since they are a bit less than half the price of RPM H-beams, it would be good to know if they are decent usable rods, or total junk ???

Hey, they're nearly a hundred bucks cheaper than the RPM 5140 rods. So, it appears that either these are total junk, or RPM is making a big profit margin on their rods.

So has anybody used 'em--or even checked a set ?

While on the subject, the Eagle rods are higher than the RPM rods, but lots of Pontiac engine builders say that the RPM rods are good. So, for those who don't consider all Chinese parts junk, are the Eagle rods actually any better than the RPM rods ?

You get what you pay for. Eagle rods are a known quantity. The Maxx Lite rods Ace used to sell were from RPM. I've never heard that they were of poor quality, just that you really need to check the clearances on both ends since they tend to run tight. These eBay rods you're looking at could be seconds that someone has purchased. I'd put them under "Buyer Beware".

[Steve C.]

"Kinda thought they may be from Procomp. They came in a plain brown box with 'Speed Master' labeling."

"Let me start from the time I opened the box. As far as any engine builder goes the first thing to look for is the spec card so you know the rod weights for balancing and bolt specs for getting the correct torque / stretch on the bolts. Don't bother looking for this critical piece of information because its not in there."

"Think ProComp for Speed Master. Actually these look like the standard Chinese, Chevy performance connecting rod sold by everybody like SCAT, Eagle and a host of others including some big American names that quietly stock them as their low cost performance rod."

"Chinese machining can be a bit sloppy which is why SCAT and others only buy the forging and finish machine them in the U.S.A"



Two of many entertaining threads about "Speed Master" rods.....

http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/i...owtopic=106597

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/spee...ds-257649.html



.

[Will]

Might as well buy some of those $149 roller lifters to go with 'em.

If only machine work wasn't so expensive. I'd be tempted to rustle up a 557 block and throw all the cheapest ebay parts I could find in it just to see what would happen.

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by Will

Might as well buy some of those $149 roller lifters to go with 'em.

If only machine work wasn't so expensive. I'd be tempted to rustle up a 557 block and throw all the cheapest ebay parts I could find in it just to see what would happen.

That would be an interesting build. Get a knockoff Nothwind intake to top it off.

[Steve C.]

And aluminium clyinder heads assembled by KRE without hardened steel spring seat cups or shims under the valve springs.


.

[Will]

Originally Posted by rohrt

That would be an interesting build. Get a knockoff Nothwind intake to top it off.

I have one of those. Came in a "Pro Comp" box. Looks fine, but haven't tried to bolt it up to anything yet. As long as the flanges aren't horrible it should work fine.

[63gpman]

not sure if anyone cares or not, but I am going to keep looking at these rods. May buy some if they work and have my machine shop check them out.

email I got back from the seller;

744 grams.
Speedmaster79

Best regards,

Jeff S.
Customer Service Team

[54nomore]

I care, man. LOL. This thread is starting to go off course as so many seem to do. How does that weight compare to other BBC/Pontiac rods?