buy used oliver rods?

[grumpyvette]

"There is a local guy who is trying to sell 6 Oliver connecting rods that are 6" long. They are for a large journal sbc and he is asking $150.00
Just so happens that I am planning to build a long rod (6in long) sbc 406.
Are these rods a quality piece?
Should I be concerned about buying used connecting rods?
Should I be wary that he only has 6 rods and not the full set of 8?

I was originally planning to use SCAT 6 inch rods."




get a good set of NEW SCAT rods, if he only has six rods for sale chances are excellent they are survivors from a catastrophic engine failure that bent the other two rods ,many older OLIVER connecting rod designs are no longer available, so you can,t buy replacements to complete the set, and you don,t know if the remaining 6 rods are marginally bent, either or what stress they were put thru. buy the new scat 6" rods, with the good 7/16" rod bolts ,linked below, its money very well spent!
Ive used several sets of the 6" rods like these (H) beams I linked to below and never found a problem, keep in mind rods and rod bolts are some of the most highly stressed components, buy good parts, and get the rotating assembly balanced.
Ive used more (H) beam rods in my engine builds but its not the style its the quality of materials, clearances and care taken in manufacturing thats more important but I strongly prefer 7/16" ARP rod bolt cap screw style rods. the main flaw in the (H) beam design is a lack of a balance pad when you go to balance the connecting rods but thats partly off set by the fact that the quality of manufacturing of theres much stronger aftermarket rods tends to limit weight variation significantly, keep in mind even the better aftermarket (I) beam rods in the better rod designs are weight matched to reduce the need to balance them by removing metal.

H BEAM
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SCA-26000716/

I BEAM
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SCA-6600021/

related info you should read thru

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=341

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=510

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=259&p=314&hilit=balancing#p314

 

[grumpyvette]

Connecting Rod

currently the better forged 4340 steel, 7/16" rod bolt rods from several aftermarket manufacturers are 50%-100% stronger than the stock chevy connecting rods

Chevrolet used many variations of their basic connecting rod over the years. All the rods were similar. Small block rods were 5.70 center length, and all rods produced prior to 1968 had a 2 inch rod journal diameter. All rods from 1968 on, including 1967 350 rods, have a 2.1 inch rod journal diameter. In addition, rods built until May 1967 have V groove holes in the rod cap.
8hspace.gif (810 bytes)All big block rods have a 6.135 center length and a 2.325 inch rod journal diameter.
8hspace.gif (810 bytes)The part numbers for Chevrolet rods are identical for each year Camaro, but there were variations in the rod design with the same number.
Part Number Application
3892670 4 & 6 cylinder except 292
3789421 292
3916399 307, 327, 350
3862720 396, 427, except 427 L88
3942409 427 L88

Listed below are the basic variations for each application.

283 through 1967

small journal
forged steel
pressed-pin
small rod beam
11/32 diameter rod bolts

327, except high performance

small journal, 11/32 rod bolts in 1967
large journal, 3/8 rod bolts 1968, 1969
forged steel
pressed pin
small rod beam
a Chevrolet Engineering Servce Letter, dated November 1, 1967, read in part:
"In order to use up a surplus of 45,000 1967 350 cu. in. Connecting Rod Assemblies (incorporating the 11/32" rod bolts and nuts), approximately 5,600 1968 RPO L30 (327 Cu. In.) engines with Powerglide Transmissions were built from 10-11-67 through 10-13-67 with the 1967 Connecting Rod Assemblies."

327 high performance

small journal, 11/32 rod bolts in 1967
large journal, 3/8 rod bolts 1968, 1969
forged steel
pressed pin
heavy beam

302 (Z/28>

small journal, 11/32 rod bolts in 1967
large journal, 3/8 rod bolts 1968, 1969
forged steel
shot peened
heat treated
magnafluxed (known as "pink rods" due to the pink residue)
babbit dipped
1967 - early 1968 pressed pin
late 1968 - 1969 floating pin

350, 1968-69 307

small journal, 11/32 rod bolts in 1967
large journal, 3/8 rod bolts 1968, 1969
forged steel
pressed pin

350 high performance (LT1)

large journal
forged steel
pressed pin
shot peened
heat treated
magnafluxed (known as "pink rods" due to the pink residue)

396, 427 except high performance

forged steel
small 3/8 rod bolts
pressed pin

396 and 427 high performance

identified by a "double dimple bump" on each side of the rod beam near the top
forged steel
standard beams and a stronger design at the big end
pressed pin on all except Corvette 427/430.
3/8 rod bolts with higher rating.
heat treated
magnafluxed (known as "pink rods" due to the pink residue)

427 ZL1

identified by a "double dimple bump" on each side of the rod beam near the top
forged steel
heavy beam
floating pin
7/16 rod bolts with ground shanks
heat treated
shot peened
magnafluxed (known as "pink rods" due to the pink residue)