Are powdered rods any good?

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Mar 14, 2013 | 10:34 AM

Street Rat

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2010

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From: Central Texas

Are powdered rods any good?

I aquired a used 350 crate motor for a reasonable price. I plan on going through it eventually and hopping it up. It has "powdered" connecting rods in it. I am not familiar with these. The motor will only be street driven and in the range of 350 horsepower.

Mar 14, 2013 | 10:54 AM

MelWff

Race Director

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If the HP limit is 350 Hp and the RPM limit is 6k you should be OK

Mar 14, 2013 | 03:03 PM

7T1vette

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Crossville TN

Powdered metal parts are relatively good, if they are processed properly. For normal street engines, they should be fine. If you intend to press the rpm limits of the engine or the engine is heavily loaded much of the time, forged rods is what you need.

Mar 14, 2013 | 09:56 PM

cardo0

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2002

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From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.

LS motors use them.

All the LS performance motors use powder metal rods - except maybe the LS7 and LS9.
But some can not be reconditioned because you have to break the cap. But some break cap rods can be reconditioned too - GEN II LT1 rods.

You might need some research here.

cardo0

Mar 15, 2013 | 06:44 AM

TimberwolfFXDL

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2013

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From: Battle Creek MI

Ran quite a few lt and ls motors with cracked cap powdered metal rods. never had a single problem despite several 11 second nitrous runs in 3400lb cars, 6700rpm redlines, etc

Mar 15, 2013 | 07:16 AM

L88Plus

Drifting

Joined: Aug 2004

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From: Lubbock TX

All the vortec smallblocks have powder metal rods with cut caps, not fractured. They're fine, can even be resized. I wouldn't use 'em for much over what you have planned, step up to conventional forged if you're gonna whoop on it hard.

Mar 15, 2013 | 11:36 AM

Street Rat

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2010

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From: Central Texas

I see that a set of Scat forged rods can be had for under $300 new. How much of an improvement over the powdered rods would these be if any?

Mar 15, 2013 | 01:31 PM

Rotonda

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 1,071

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From: Rotonda FL

I have a set of rods removed from my 77. They're yours for $10 plus shipping. PM me if interested.

The pistons are still on the rods and the caps and rods have been maintained as pairs.

Last edited by Rotonda; Mar 15, 2013 at 01:33 PM. Reason: addition