I'm going to be replacing the rods in my '89 -- I'll be keeping it at 350 cid and am wondering if the connecting rods that show in the Summit catalog as their brand are any good. Any experience w/these?

 

They're made by someone but I wouldn't know who. Check cnc-motorsports.com for prices on names you'll know.

 

The rods are made by CAT (Cal Auto Transpeed) out of California. Incidently CAT also supplies the raw forgings for Scat and Eagle I belive.
Will

 

How good is CAT's stuff?

 

I put a set of 6" CAT rods in a buddy's 350. He runs it to 7000 rpm with 0 problems. Any rod is better than the stock '89. They used a thinner rod which is weaker than the typical 350 rod. My guess is GM knew these motors wouldn't spin high enough to hurt themselves and saw the opportunity to save a buck.

 

I put a set of 6" CAT rods in a buddy's 350. He runs it to 7000 rpm with 0 problems. Any rod is better than the stock '89. They used a thinner rod which is weaker than the typical 350 rod. My guess is GM knew these motors wouldn't spin high enough to hurt themselves and saw the opportunity to save a buck.

 

Yeah, I was really surprised how thin they were when I got the engine apart! I'm sure you're right about GM saving a few $'s.

 

I have run their H-beam rods past 800hp in big blocks with no failures. The little I beam stock replacement rods are good to about 450hp, however I did have this one really cheap customer with a Mud Bog truck. 383 inch SBC, 13.1 compression, 5.7 rods (floated CAT I beams), 9000 series cast crank. The top end consisted of a Herbert mech roller (256/270 @.050) a set of Pro Top Line 235cc heads, an old bowtie intake and a new AED 750HO carb. This motor made over 550hp and turned over 7000 rpm with out any rod failures for over 2yrs. Infact it indured so much abuse at the hands of the former customer even I was amazed. He was one of those who let anyone work on his stuff if they said they cold make it faster... I spent more time at the race track fixing other peoples bull crap than anything. It did finally blow up but due to a local "Super Tuner" leaning his carb out to the point that the primary header tubes were cherry red (at idle) and he ran it anyway, after I told him to fix the carb before he even fired it again. Well he didn't and a piston came apart (KB's do not handle that kind of abuse very well). Needless to say I will never build another engine for this person. The rods held up well, and I've used them in a few lower hp street oriented motors with no problems, my supplier called about a year ago and asked if I was having any "quality control problems" with the machining, aparantly they do send out a bad batch (tolerances are off in left field) every now and then but I haven't ever got any personally. Just to be sure I do break out the dial bore gauge and check the big ends thou.
So it all depends on what you are doing, if its a street motor with less than 450hp I wouldn't hesitate to use them.
Will

 

thats some good info to know about C.A.T. con-ronds. they even make 5.565" stock 400 rods

 

I've used their bushed (floating piston pin) rods in a 6-71 blown 355 and had absolutely no problems. Remember these rods are heavier than stock and balancing is mandatory.

 

Hey, thanks for the reminder!