Stock Rod Question

Can stock rods be bushed for floating 1.04 pins?

Thanks

Yes....... but for the money spent you might consider getting a set Scat Hbeams.

I have some truck rods sitting on the shelf which already have ARP bolts, bushed for .990 and had the machine work done. I was thinking about using them for some pistons with the stock pin size, but was wondering if bushing them for stock pins would weaken the rods due to the larger size bushing.

You can float them with out bushings too, if you feel uncomfortable.

I bushed a set for stock pins once. They ran almost one season of pulling before the end pulled open on one. I had used them several years with them just floated. As cheap as the scat H beams are now it ain't worth taking the chance.

Over the last several years we've floated perhaps 8-10 sets of OEM rods without bushing them, just enlarge the 1.040" hole to the appropriate spec. Since it is not bronze bushed, clearance the pin end for the steel-on-steel and add an oiling hole or two. All sets that we made went into engines and all these engines are still running today as far as I know.

Doing this with the OEM rods and used within reason and within the suitable applications, it works fine and cost next-to-nothing for the conversion...perhaps a quarter for a set of rods.

If you can afford to build an engine that makes power over 6000 rpm, then you can also afford an aftermarket rod upgrade.

Paul

p.s.: Here's a really old TRW instruction sheet for floating the OEM rods. This used to come with the L2443s' back in the day (1980's):