New 327 connecting rod

[Duke W.]

I recently conducted a rod survey and found that Eagle has a new (for 2007) small journal 5.7" rod with either pressed or bushed small end. It's a 5140 I-beam type with 3/8" cap screws. The claimed weight in the catalog (you can down load the catalog in pdf) is 590 grams and typical Web price is about $250 for a set.

In the past I have had a somewhat negative view of Scat and Eagle rods because they are much heavier than the approximate 570 grams of the OE rods. For example, the Scat 2-ICR5700-200P (roughly equivalent to the above Eagle rod) was quoted at 660 grams over the phone by one of their tech reps.

The small journal rods tend to be heavy because they are typically machined from the same raw forgings as the large bearing rods, and since the big end has a smaller bore, more material is left on the rod.

In the past I have favored Crower Sportsman rods because their weight is closer to OE - about 590 grams, but they are about double the price of these new Eagles - and I still favor them for "327 LT-1" configurations, which can make useable power to about 7200, but for the new "Special 300 HP" configuration, these new Eagle rods are probably adequate if the 590 gram weight spec is true.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: New 327 connecting rod

Duke------

I believe that all of the Scat and Eagle-branded engine parts are made in China. That's why they are so much lower priced than brands like Crower that are US-manufactured. However, being made in China doesn't necessarily make them bad. China has some of the best and most modern steel manufacturing operations in the world. Also, just because the employees there work for "peanuts" doesn't mean that they do bad work.

[Duke W.]

Re: New 327 connecting rod

I believe you're correct. and I think most guys know that a lot of these aftermarket cranktrain parts are made in the PRC.

There have been some quality issues of late with PRC products, but it's up to each individual to decide if they want to go with these parts or made in the USA at nearly double the price.

Duke

[Joel Falk]

Re: New 327 connecting rod

Are these painted with lead based paint? Sorry, I could not resist . . .

Duke, how do you feel about these Scat rods for a SHP? What do you think is the safe rev limit for them?

[Duke W.]

Re: New 327 connecting rod

Just don't lick, chew, or suck on these rods.

Like I said the Scats are too heavy IMO, but if these new Eagle rods are really only 590 grams, they are certainly worth considering. All I can see of them is the photo in the catalog. I'd like to compare a OE rod, a Sportsman, and one of these new Eagle rods side by side.

Clearly, the design is superior to the OE rod, and they may well be the equal of the Sportsman. I don't know anything about the process and quality control, but I've never heard of any service problems (like broken rods) with Scat or Eagle rods.

Likely they are okay for mechanical lifter engines that will occasionally see 7200.

Duke

[J M.]

Re: New 327 connecting rod

I am one of the guys using the SCAT rods. Like Duke said, they are heavy. Mine were 642 grams. I would have used the Crowers, but the wait was 4-5 months at the time I rebuit my engine. I am running a 327/350 and have encountered no problems with them. They were balanced within 1/2 gram and are very robust. All measurements were right on. The only balancing problem I had was that I had to add some weight to the crank. Engine spins easily to 6000 rpm. Just curious, what would I notice differently with a set of lighter rods?

[Duke W.]

Re: New 327 connecting rod

The primary "problem" with heavy rods is that they complicate balancing by requiring mass addition, sometimes significant, to the crankshaft.

Especially if you are running the OE "boat anchor" 30-pound flywheel the effect of the heavier rods on rotating interia is minor, and is probably not much even if you run the light weight L-88 flywheel, which I only recommend if you have a SHP/FI engine with relatively short gearing.

Up until recently the only high strength replacements for the weak OE 327 rods were either the relatively light, but expensive Crower Sportsmans or the relatively heavy, but inexpensive Eagles and Scats.

However, these new Eagle small bearing, 5.7" SIR rods offer both relatively light weight and low cost, which is why I have a favorable view of them.

At 590 grams the Sportsman and new Eagle SIR rods might require a little mass addition to the crankshaft, but it will be a lot less than with 650 gram rods.

Duke