View Poll Results: Carbon fiber connecting rods?
Yes
3
23.08%
No
5
38.46%
For what price?
5
38.46%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll
Carbon Fiber Connecting Rods
11-05-2018 | 02:05 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Carbon Fiber Connecting Rods Carbon fiber rods that weigh 250 grams yielding a bob weight of about 1075 grams: Would these products be of interest to anybody?
Last edited by CFMTEF; 11-05-2018 at 02:21 PM.
11-05-2018 | 04:37 PM
#3
In the late 70’s, a great friend and mentor of mine was running the Daytona 500. He was midpack behind Cale Yarborough, when Cale blew up. After the race, he was talking to Cale, and asked what broke. Cale said “we broke the rods”. My friend, who is an engine builder, was intrigued and asked “rods?” with an S. Cale said “yeah, we were trying carbon fiber connecting rods, and they didn’t work.”
Of course this was 40 years ago, and perhaps carbon tech has evolved. I’m just sharing an honest real life example of CF rods failing.
Of course this was 40 years ago, and perhaps carbon tech has evolved. I’m just sharing an honest real life example of CF rods failing.
11-06-2018 | 08:55 AM
#5
Fellas, if carbon were to work in this application, one major advantage would be if it were to break, it kinda of shatters so it will likely not damage the rest of the engine. Think of them as a fuse. they would not bend either. This would really be cool if the price wasnt absurd. I'll be a tester in my turbo 5.3 if you want to send me some. i'll put them through their paces.
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11-08-2018 | 04:53 PM
#10
Fellas, if carbon were to work in this application, one major advantage would be if it were to break, it kinda of shatters so it will likely not damage the rest of the engine. Think of them as a fuse. they would not bend either. This would really be cool if the price wasnt absurd. I'll be a tester in my turbo 5.3 if you want to send me some. i'll put them through their paces.
11-09-2018 | 11:52 AM
#11
LMAO!!! Technically they should not cost much more than a good set of billet Steel rods. You can make a "forging" from a clamshell tool that just needs some final machining (hopefully you can make them good enough to just need honing) after de'mold. Are you making them in a clave or a press?
11-11-2018 | 09:22 AM
#12
LMAO!!! Technically they should not cost much more than a good set of billet Steel rods. You can make a "forging" from a clamshell tool that just needs some final machining (hopefully you can make them good enough to just need honing) after de'mold. Are you making them in a clave or a press?
11-11-2018 | 09:52 AM
#13
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 328
Likes: 2
hopefully this doesn't get dinged as a non sponsor link, but here is some info:
https://www.naimocomposites.com/our-product
https://www.lsxmag.com/tech-stories/...nnecting-rods/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/l...o-composites#/
https://www.naimocomposites.com/our-product
https://www.lsxmag.com/tech-stories/...nnecting-rods/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/l...o-composites#/
11-11-2018 | 01:53 PM
#14
CF rods would be very nice but the price point would have to be $1,500 or less for a set for a lot of us.
The crowd funding is closed for Naimo but it's an interesting read.
Reminds of when no one made long tube headers for swapping an LS1 into a 3rd Gen fbody. A dozen of us donated $200 each to a local shop that's business focus was 3rdGen f-body's to fab up a set and do a production run of 12 sets. The $200 would count towards purchase of a set of headers. About 18 months later Stainless Steel Works had the prototype set completed and was ready for production. Of course the shop was flirting with bankruptcy at this point and couldn't pay SSW to make the headers. The shop owner was full of lame excuses to the point I called SSW myself to find out the reason for the delays.
The shop owner was at a lose for words and held his head low at various car shows. Soon shop was out of business and thankfully Hawk's Motorsports stepped up and acquired the swap header rights / design. Hawk's got the product to market and it sold well. Of course none of the original dozen got headers or their $200 back from the other shop.
I suspect the route to crowd funded carbon fiber connecting rods might be more difficult than getting a set of LT/mid length LS swap headers created way back in the early 2000's.
The crowd funding is closed for Naimo but it's an interesting read.
Reminds of when no one made long tube headers for swapping an LS1 into a 3rd Gen fbody. A dozen of us donated $200 each to a local shop that's business focus was 3rdGen f-body's to fab up a set and do a production run of 12 sets. The $200 would count towards purchase of a set of headers. About 18 months later Stainless Steel Works had the prototype set completed and was ready for production. Of course the shop was flirting with bankruptcy at this point and couldn't pay SSW to make the headers. The shop owner was full of lame excuses to the point I called SSW myself to find out the reason for the delays.
The shop owner was at a lose for words and held his head low at various car shows. Soon shop was out of business and thankfully Hawk's Motorsports stepped up and acquired the swap header rights / design. Hawk's got the product to market and it sold well. Of course none of the original dozen got headers or their $200 back from the other shop.
I suspect the route to crowd funded carbon fiber connecting rods might be more difficult than getting a set of LT/mid length LS swap headers created way back in the early 2000's.
11-12-2018 | 11:58 AM
#16
Yes I know, just a great statement you made!
OP, my only concern with UD would be complete destruction from anything that comes along and hits them. 3K would only be marginally better. No plans to add some kevlar layers? What resin system will you use? Fairly high oil operating temps plus the oil itself could degrade it over time. Just curious
OP, my only concern with UD would be complete destruction from anything that comes along and hits them. 3K would only be marginally better. No plans to add some kevlar layers? What resin system will you use? Fairly high oil operating temps plus the oil itself could degrade it over time. Just curious
11-12-2018 | 12:44 PM
#17
11-15-2018 | 02:10 PM
#18
11-15-2018 | 02:25 PM
#19
I would be curious to see how they would do compared to an aluminum rod, id be willing to try some myself if the price was competitive with other high end off the shelf connecting rods.
