Scat or Eagle rods ?
#1
Le Mans Master
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Scat or Eagle rods ?
Who among you has actual experience using Scat or Eagle rods and what is your "qualified" opinion?
Thanks,
Rex
Thanks,
Rex
#2
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Rex, the engine in my Grand Sport has a set of Eagle 4340 rods and there are lots of high RPM miles on them. They have stayed together so my opinion (not necessarily a qualified one) is favorable.
Whacha thinkin' about doin'?
Jim
Whacha thinkin' about doin'?
Jim
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Dr L-88 (11-19-2018)
#3
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Thanks,
Rex
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Dr L-88 (11-19-2018)
#5
Race Director
Popularity often is related to price and/or what all their boyfriends run. It doesn't mean its the best.
Scat rods tend to be heavier, in my past experience,and reciprocating weight is not your friend.
I would look at weight also, check out other rod companies, Manley H-beam, Crower, etc. too.
Doug
Scat rods tend to be heavier, in my past experience,and reciprocating weight is not your friend.
I would look at weight also, check out other rod companies, Manley H-beam, Crower, etc. too.
Doug
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Dr L-88 (11-19-2018)
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#7
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St. Jude Donor '12
Don't know if it matters to anyone else, but both Scat and Eagle are made from Chinese steel. Eagle is completely finished overseas, and just boxed up in the USA, whereas the final machining on Scat is done in the USA. I personally prefer to buy American made steel. Crower, Callies and Oliver are all made in the USA.
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Dr L-88 (11-19-2018)
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#9
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The H-Beam would make sense if the rod stress is longitudinal WRT the engine, i.e. parallel to the crank centerline.
It's not.
If there is any bending stress on the rods it is lateral (i.e. from side to side) and for that, an I-Beam is the configuration which makes the most sense.
Maybe it's a marketing breakthrough....
In the interest of full disclosure: The Eagle rods in my road race engine are H-Beam. I bought them before thinking through the stresses. Not sure I would buy H-Beam again until/unless someone shows me the error of my thinking.
Jim
Last edited by jim lockwood; 11-19-2018 at 05:28 PM.
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Dr L-88 (11-19-2018)
#10
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All the race stuff I ever played with had aluminum rods in it, so I too am curious about I-beam vs. H-beam rods.....
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/200...-many-choices/
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/200...-many-choices/
#11
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#12
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I've used Eagle with good results, read...'no issues' but prefer Callies. That's what I put in my '86 Monte SS ......
#13
Race Director
Generally, mechanically engineering related, H beams are stronger for a given weight, IIRC. They are more expensive to produce most likely, and also have higher compression load capability, again, IIRC, its been decades since i took those classes. If anything causes the rods to bend laterally, you have other problems besides your rod selection choice.
Doug
Doug
Someone please explain to me why H-Beam rods exist.
The H-Beam would make sense if the rod stress is longitudinal WRT the engine, i.e. parallel to the crank centerline.
It's not.
If there is any bending stress on the rods it is lateral (i.e. from side to side) and for that, an I-Beam is the configuration which makes the most sense.
Maybe it's a marketing breakthrough....
In the interest of full disclosure: The Eagle rods in my road race engine are H-Beam. I bought them before thinking through the stresses. Not sure I would buy H-Beam again until/unless someone shows me the error of my thinking.
Jim
The H-Beam would make sense if the rod stress is longitudinal WRT the engine, i.e. parallel to the crank centerline.
It's not.
If there is any bending stress on the rods it is lateral (i.e. from side to side) and for that, an I-Beam is the configuration which makes the most sense.
Maybe it's a marketing breakthrough....
In the interest of full disclosure: The Eagle rods in my road race engine are H-Beam. I bought them before thinking through the stresses. Not sure I would buy H-Beam again until/unless someone shows me the error of my thinking.
Jim
#14
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H-beam rods may be lighter for a given load bearing capacity, but the variation and volume of oil trapped windage mass is likely to negate any weight savings.
I personally have Oliver rods in my 357, and the former group buy small journal Crower Sportsman rods in my original 340hp/327 that sits rebuilt on a stand in the garage.
I personally have Oliver rods in my 357, and the former group buy small journal Crower Sportsman rods in my original 340hp/327 that sits rebuilt on a stand in the garage.
#15
Safety Car
Eagle stuff should be finished over seas. They do some rework here but not every piece. As far as I know Scat cranks are finished here. I don't know about their rods. I have used both Scat has a better grip on quality control. I didn't take the time to look up the rods you are going to use but I would use 4340 H beam. Either of the brands of rods will work ou of the box, again I prefer Scat. Cranks are another story.
#16
Le Mans Master
???
Eagle stuff should be finished over seas. They do some rework here but not every piece. As far as I know Scat cranks are finished here. I don't know about their rods. I have used both Scat has a better grip on quality control. I didn't take the time to look up the rods you are going to use but I would use 4340 H beam. Either of the brands of rods will work ou of the box, again I prefer Scat. Cranks are another story.
#17
Just thinking out loud, but seems to me that conrod loads are the inertial forces of starting and stopping the assemby at both ends of the stroke and the compression load applied during the power stroke. Assuming the oiling system is working the rotational degree of freedom around the crank/wrist pin axes are released at each end of the rod and there is limited space for displacement so bending in that plane should not be a major issue. Power stroke column buckling might be why H beams exist. Or, maybe because Carrillo rods didn't fail as much as alternates back in the day.
#18
Safety Car
There should be very good YouTube videos explaining why. I have had to have every Brand X crank I used ground because of taper in the journals. And when I say ground I mean to standard. They normally have taper worn in the grinding wheel that leaves the outer parts of the rod throw too big. The worst I've seen was .003" too big. I've never had to have a scat ground they have always been good on size. The crank grinder charges extra when you come in and want a crank ground to standard because it takes much longer to chase a crank that is on size in the center but not on the sides. There should be a video detailing this and it's not a rare instance, i just went and checked and yes it's there the first video on grinding the brand x crank. Now they may have cured this I can't say but this has always been my experience. And buy a forged crank not cast, that's just my opinion.
i just reread my previous post and I can see how it could be confusing and lead you to believe I was saying something bad about Scat cranks. That is incorrect I consider them the best in the cheaper line of cranks.
Last edited by Robert61; 11-19-2018 at 08:25 PM.
#19
Le Mans Master
Thx
There should be very good YouTube videos explaining why. I have had to have every Brand X crank I used ground because of taper in the journals. And when I say ground I mean to standard. They normally have taper worn in the grinding wheel that leaves the outer parts of the rod throw too big. The worst I've seen was .003" too big. I've never had to have a scat ground they have always been good on size. The crank grinder charges extra when you come in and want a crank ground to standard because it takes much longer to chase a crank that is on size in the center but not on the sides. There should be a video detailing this and it's not a rare instance, i just went and checked and yes it's there the first video on grinding the brand x crank. Now they may have cured this I can't say but this has always been my experience. And buy a forged crank not cast, that's just my opinion.
i just reread my previous post and I can see how it could be confusing and lead you to believe I was saying something bad about Scat cranks. That is incorrect I consider them the best in the cheaper line of cranks.
#20
Safety Car
I am using Scat h beam rods and a GM ls7 crank in my 415 LS3 build for my 61.