Aluminum Rods are in Texas!

[Diesel power]

I disagree. If i stay at around 700ish hp and am keeping a stock engine alive then i can't see why a stronger aluminum rod won't work. I just don't know how much cash it would take to make them fit or if that could even be feesible...These things are HUGE compared to stockers. I do agree you won't be able to make these stronger than a forged steel rod. But since I am on a very tight budget this could possibly be another rod option.
Paint, This is why I have waited so long to build something in hopes of prices getting drove down! It is freakin rediculous for the prices we pay for some of this stuff.

If you dissagree then build one and do it!!! HP has nothing to do with aluminum rod longevity, you really should do more reaserch before you surprise yourself.

Problem is that aluminum work hardens and becomes more brittle and eventually will wipe out your block, crank, pistons and oil pan..

 

[Mike_S]

Folwer makes nice stuff, but not the brand i choose to run. The forging i use are proprietary to one manufacture, they are forged, not billet.

There is quite a bit of thinking involved in putting them in and getting the engine to stay together. Everyone i talked to before my build went forward thought i was crazy and offered very little advice/help. So i went with what i knew had worked with past gas/diesel engine builds and it worked.


The cost to build one is much cheaper than a billet stroker kit...

This is for racing only, and expected teardowns yearly at min

I wouldent reccomend the faint of heart to try this, it's not as easy as i say it is, it will test you patience.

on steel rods i have the ability to private label my own and can retail them for under 1900, so cost is not the reason i went with aluminum...

Mike dragster weighs under 1900lbs too

Results may vary

Have you pulled yours yet?

 

[ecc_33]

If you dissagree then build one and do it!!! HP has nothing to do with aluminum rod longevity, you really should do more reaserch before you surprise yourself.

Problem is that aluminum work hardens and becomes more brittle and eventually will wipe out your block, crank, pistons and oil pan..

Oh, Thanks so much Wade:thumb: I guess I should have just kept all the info I found out today to my self. Had BES do all the machine work. Then had Stingpuller do all the assembly work and claim that I did it ALL and take all the fame! Sound familiar And I am 25 years old there bud. I never claim to know it all like some. I learn by asking questions like this post. im Sting and everyone else i ask the million questions get sick and tired of listening to all my questions but this is how I learn!

 

[Diesel power]

Have you pulled yours yet?

Yes. No bottom end issue's.

 

[Diesel power]

Oh, Thanks so much Wade:thumb: I guess I should have just kept all the info I found out today to my self. Had BES do all the machine work. Then had Stingpuller do all the assembly work and claim that I did it ALL and take all the fame! Sound familiar And I am 25 years old there bud. I never claim to know it all like some. I learn by asking questions like this post. Im sure people like Jeff get sick and tired of listening to all my questions but this is how I learn!

No it does not, but i was trying to help you understand the reality of what your getting into. But what would i know ...Since im the only one who has done this, i have more expirence than anyone on this specific type of build. i wouldent get to cocky, you might need a favor one day.



BTW i have a few aluminum builds in process right now, among several other's...

been doing this probably longer than you've had a drivers permit :baby:

 

[ecc_33]

Wade, I didn't tell them to make me a set so im not getting into anything. I was just bringing up the fact that they can make them. And someone might be running a set. I already said I have no clue if they will fit or hold up. I do believe it is possible on a mild hp truck they could live. And no, I have absolutely no data to back that statement up. What I do know is that stock ones bend. And mine are. So most likely this winter I will be installing some sort of aftermarket rods. Could this be a option?

 

[Diesel power]

Wade, I didn't tell them to make me a set so im not getting into anything. I was just bringing up the fact that they can make them. And someone might be running a set. I already said I have no clue if they will fit or hold up. I do believe it is possible on a mild hp truck they could live. And no, I have absolutely no data to back that statement up. What I do know is that stock ones bend. And mine are. So most likely this winter I will be installing some sort of aftermarket rods. Could this be a option?

anything is possible but, as of right now i feel there good for racing only and wouldent want to misslead anyone into thinking that they would live on the street.

once they are proven on the strip and the pulls, then im sure someone will build one for the street.

 

[Rhall]

That is a very good price... but i would be more interested if i actually seen one compared apples to apples. Cant really compare Wades truck with anything except for the Banks truck... and they seem to be getting it done with forged steel im guessing? A puller motor with aluminum rods would be interesting if rpms is what you were looking for. Wade, got any pullers with aluminum rods coming up? Maybe one that will make it to some big events?

 

[05chevy]

Dumb question but is street driving that much harder on a engine then racing. To me while your racing although its only for a few seconds. Would be harder on a motor then street driving.

 

[Rhall]

Dumb question but is street driving that much harder on a engine then racing. To me while your racing although its only for a few seconds. Would be harder on a motor then street driving.

In some aspects yes... theres a lot more heat cycles on a daily driver than a racer though.

 

[Diesel Technology Source]

Aluminum rods will not work period in a street application not because of the strength during acceleration but when you let off the throttle the end caps will seperate from the rod. Wade do you run a lenco in your race truck?

 

[SgtKilroy]

Here's something to think about.

Hardness is how much a metal resists changing it's shape permanently. A spring can very hard and still "move" a lot, but it returns to it's original shape.

Aluminum has a max hardness of about 78k PSI. That's about the same as mild steel.

Will it eventually deform? Dunno.

I'm sure this is a retarded question, but why not run rods made from spring steel then? Would it absorb too much energy on the power stroke of the piston and actually reduce power?

 

[Diesel Technology Source]

That is a very good price... but i would be more interested if i actually seen one compared apples to apples. Cant really compare Wades truck with anything except for the Banks truck... and they seem to be getting it done with forged steel im guessing? A puller motor with aluminum rods would be interesting if rpms is what you were looking for. Wade, got any pullers with aluminum rods coming up? Maybe one that will make it to some big events?

If you had a puller with a open drive line it would work.

 

[emiller3]

I think those rods are in the new dmax nx dragster that is supposed to be in Ennis this weekend .Hope to get to see it in action.:woott:

 

[Diesel power]

That is a very good price... but i would be more interested if i actually seen one compared apples to apples. Cant really compare Wades truck with anything except for the Banks truck... and they seem to be getting it done with forged steel im guessing? A puller motor with aluminum rods would be interesting if rpms is what you were looking for. Wade, got any pullers with aluminum rods coming up? Maybe one that will make it to some big events?

Yes, build in progress as we speak for the d-max. how ever i know quite a few pro mod alcohol diesel pullers running aluminum rods....making stupid power and running 7000 rpm+

Aluminum rods will not work period in a street application not because of the strength during acceleration but when you let off the throttle the end caps will seperate from the rod. Wade do you run a lenco in your race truck?

Yes i run a lenco

If you had a puller with a open drive line it would work.

It will work with any type of puller, the dirt is your friend...:hug:

 

[McRat]

I'm sure this is a retarded question, but why not run rods made from spring steel then? Would it absorb too much energy on the power stroke of the piston and actually reduce power?

You need to rods to remain the same shape as they move or things go bang.

Rods need hardness to have dimensional stability. Hardness is what keeps the dimensions the same during it's life. As many have found out, if the rods changes 0.060" in length (a 1/16th of an inch) things go bang. Much smaller changes in the bore sizes will cause immediate failure too.

 

[Rhall]

Yes, build in progress as we speak for the d-max. how ever i know quite a few pro mod alcohol diesel pullers running aluminum rods....making stupid power and running 7000 rpm+

Yes i run a lenco


It will work with any type of puller, the dirt is your friend...:hug:

I know a lot of alky tractors run them... im talking duramax.

 

[Rhall]

If you had a puller with a open drive line it would work.

What does the driveline have to do with it? Maybe you mean a manual trans?

 

[Stingpuller]

Wow!

Wade, Just shut up!! I will bet my house that none of us can bend a aluminum rod from Fowler(any good company) unless you hydrolic the motor!!! We cannot begin to make enough power to bend theses rods. Also you will not pull the rod/cap apart, They are stonger than most any steel rod in that department also. The cap is wider and they move the bolts out and it makes them a lot stronger. I can tell that most on here have never run aluminum and that's fine but you shouldn't try to talk bad about something you have never run for yourself!! That wouuld make you sound like Wade! Not a good thing. Are they for everyone? Nope! But in a race motor with limited miles a year, They are a option. I have personally run aluminum in street motors for many miles. I still have a couple of sets sitting aroung in the garage at home. I have broken 1 rod out of god knows how many and that was my fault! I was doing something I should not have been doing. Yes I also will admit when I do something wrong. Over the years I have boken a lot of stuff but I also learned what would and wouldn't work without others just telling me it wouldn't. Sorry for the rant but they could and will work in the correct setup and yes they would need replaced sometime. How many of you guys replace your aftermarket steel rods? They have a life cycle also! Nascar replaces there rods after so many laps. anything fatigues after time. Jeff

 

[SgtKilroy]

You need to rods to remain the same shape as they move or things go bang.

Rods need hardness to have dimensional stability. Hardness is what keeps the dimensions the same during it's life. As many have found out, if the rods changes 0.060" in length (a 1/16th of an inch) things go bang. Much smaller changes in the bore sizes will cause immediate failure too.

Gotcha. Thank you! :hug: