merriman44

iTrader: (4)

So I bought what was advertised as eagle rods for my 402. They got here and were not stamped as eagle rods so I think I got the el-cheapo chinese ones. Is any one running these? I want to make sure that I won't get a rod out the side of the block. The build isn't radical and won't be revved past 6500 and will push no more than 550 horse. Are these ok or should I get rid of them?

Wonderbread

iTrader: (51)

Eagle rods are Chinese rods, just finished here. Do you have any pictures of them that you can post? What do the bolts say on them?

Busted Knuckles

One distinguising feature of Eagles is that they leave a ridge in the middle of the side scallops rather than machining it out completely smooth. As Wonderbread said, rod bolts could be a tell as well.

merriman44

iTrader: (4)

I'll look when I get back home (stuck in Columbus). What should I look for in the rod bolts? They are ARP.

willsctsv

Chinese Rods!

BoostedSS

They are outsourced to china so that they are cheaper for the consumer. They are a great rod for the price.
I would rather them be made in the U.S but, they would be more expensive..

drain89

iTrader: (13)

Eagle are chinese 4340 forgings which is different from u.s. 4340 forgings. they are machined here though. IIRC Scat is the same deal. CAT is even worse, they are 100% chinese. There are other generics too, which is what you probably got. Unless you were 100% sure they're at least eagle or scat I would get rid of them.

Busted Knuckles

^ hella advice, I agree completely. Early on, Eagle was crap, sizes all over the place, poor or no quality control. They've gotten 500% better as has the stuff that Scat has forged overseas. I've actually found Scat to have consistently better dimensions.
CAT and Pro Comp are among the worst of the junk currently imported, IMHO.

If you don't know what's in it, don't smoke it.

1997bird

iTrader: (2)

If they are Eagle rods, they will have Eagle stamped on the head of the capscrew.

merriman44

iTrader: (4)

Well so your saying they are worse than the powder metal stock rods? This engine won't see past 6500 and no power adders. How about I just have my shop check them out

OneQuickCoupe

iTrader: (1)

If you can't figure out where the rods you have are from or don't want to take a chance on them then give this one a try. They are machined up your way but are forged in China. You could take a drive over to Fostoria and watch them machine up your set. They are very cost effective as well.

Callies Performance Products
110 West Jones Road
Fostoria, OH 44830

http://www.compstarcomponents.com/

D.J.

Busted Knuckles

While your shop may be able to check dimensions, etc., they won't be able to determine the metallurgy which is where you run into trouble with some of the cheaper Chinese rods.

Jimmy B

Go to the link you provided and read what it says. They forge and semi machine the parts in China not just forge them. While some manufacturers get rods fully machined in China, the only machining that companies like Callies does here is final honing.

drain89

iTrader: (13)

If I were looking for budget parts, instead of relying on chinese junk, I would go with HRC (Howards Racing Components). HRC is U.S. made but they don't spend alot of money on advertising and have been around since the day (when they were Howards Cams). They have great prices and some real quality budget parts. You can get them from Competition Products (owned by the same company). The good thing about their catalog is that they list what parts are imported and what is U.S. made.

OneQuickCoupe

iTrader: (1)

If that's true then I stand corrected however it doesn't say what type of machining is accomplished in China, (semi-finished?). It also doesn't say anything about Callies only doing the final hone as you are saying.
Please see below.

Direct quote from Callies web site

Compstar Performance Engine Components

Welcome to Compstar Performance Engine Components, a division of Callies Performance Products. The Compstar product line of crankshafts and connecting rods was implemented to fill our customer’s need for quality components that are value priced.

Compstar Components are an independent line of products that are forged and semi finished at various offshore locations. Out of respect for our customers and their integrity, Callies will not hide this fact or disguise these products with an American sounding brand. Instead, we are committed to constantly examine and evaluate these components enabling Callies to offer the best offshore component available.

Our efforts to evaluate potential suppliers have been extensive. Callies has personally visited most crankshaft and connecting rod manufacturers operating out of China, Europe and India. Independent specialists were hired to review the facilities we were unable to visit. To ensure consistent product quality, specialists have been retained to systematically review our supplier’s processes and capabilities.

In the end, we’re confident that we have chosen the most desirable companies to fulfill our needs. Each having it’s own area of expertise, our choices were determined by their capabilities to produce a quality part meeting the following criteria:

Consistent dimensional quality
Consistent material quality
Ability to produce needed quantities within desired timeframe
Ability to produce parts to our specified blueprint
Unlike similar offerings by other companies, all Compstar components will be finished at Callies using state of the art equipment. This will allow us to maintain proper geometry and quality control, while monitoring both metallurgy and design.

Compstar was established with it’s own full time staff of engineering and technical personnel. Every Compstar component is fully engineered, detailed and inspected prior to release for shipment. Equipped with the latest engineering software, each Compstar component is designed and analyzed to ensure that it is Application Ready and Soundly Reliable.

Compstar also utilizes precision gauging and material evaluation equipment that is routinely ISO 17025 certified for consistent accountability. Because of our attention to detail, Compstar Components are soon to be the benchmark by which other imported components are measured.

If you are interested in the machine work Callies does to these components please call Brook Piper, (Callies Rep.) and he will be glad to detail it for you.

D.J.

merriman44

iTrader: (4)

Alright thanks folks. Last question, are all eagles stamped?

pwtr02ss

iTrader: (33)

Have you guy's ever used any of the rods you are bashing? True the CAT rods and others are known to vary in size. Simple fix is to take them to a local shop and have them resized. IMO the cheapest $200 h-beam rods on ebay are just as strong as Eagles. The're all 4340 h-beam style. Even with the junk bolts that come in them they'll still be twice as strong as the stockers.

Busted Knuckles

Need to be resized when new, "junk" bolts - this is the quality of parts you want to run in your engine?
Garbage in, garbage out. Connecting rods are NOT budget items with any performance build.

pwtr02ss

iTrader: (33)

How many times have you used them? I've used them in hundreds of big compression 7,000rpm plus circle track engines. I alway's use a ARP 2000 or L19 bolt. Over half this board speaks on what they read on here and not what they know. Most say they are crap because they are cheap.

Busted Knuckles

I don't use 'em because I had a cheap buddy that just had to try 'em. After paying the shop to resize 'em and swap bolts out of the box, he could have bought better rods to begin with for the same money. #3 snapped in half on the 3rd pass, right in the middle of the beam. No oiling problems, no spun bearings, no warning, just snapped and took out the block.
Hundreds of engines? You must be a big volume builder, where's your shop?