my buddy had a bad feeling about his eagle-rod vitara-piston setup that he bought from someone else, so we yanked it out of his car and disassembled it. Upon disassembly, we noticed one of the rods was discolored. He took it to the local machine shop, they reconditioned it and said it was good to use again. The motor didn't spin a bearing, but the bearing, rod and rod-bolts showed a lot of signs of heat.



He's thinking he can reuse the rod, and upon checking clearances they are in spec. I have some more of the same style rod bolts laying around and plan on using those, as I just can't trust rod bolts that are discolored from heat like these.

what do you guys think?

thanks

 

If they say it's fine and it's a reputable machine shop then go for it. I personally font like to use used parts in a new motor build

 

change the bolts at least their cheap insurance...

 

as long as the clearances are within spec you "should" be fine, that will tell you regardless the color.

 

I'd replace the whole rod i had a pauter billet rod that was miscolored due to a spun rod bearing and i replaced it rather than taking a chance of it breaking and taking out the whole motor. it cost me $200 to replace.

 

I would buy a new one. The metal properties have been compromised and weakend. Eagle rods are like 75 to 100 bux just isn't worth a hole in the block ......just my .02

 

x2

 

I would say it also depends on how much power you plan on making, RPMs, etc. If its just a simple streetable budget build that youre revving to 8, and only making 350, I would be as worried as building a 9500rpm 500whp motor.

 

this motor will be revved to 7000 rpm and make around 300 WHP

I'll let my friend see the thread to make up his mind. I gave him some good rod bolts to replace the discolored ones already.

thanks for the feedback

 

Can someone please explain how a rod gets that hot (besides from spinning a bearing)?
High oil tempature?
Not enough rod to crank side clearance?

 

I agree 100% throw that piece of **** in the trash

 

friction causes heat no matter what it is. if your were to take grinder to a piece of steel and grind on it then it will get very hot and turn orange, and also be a darker color than before. causes could be oil starvation, improper clearances.

 

I understand friction causes heat and discoloration, but friction from what?
The rod bearing and crank journal?
If so, it must have been extremely close to spinning the bearing dont ya think?
When the rod gets that hot, aren't clearances gonna get even tighter due to the thermal expansion?
I cant see how that rod could get so hot and NOT spin the bearing...

 

I wish I had pics of the bearing, it was crazy. Actually I'll see if it's on my phone still. The rod bearing didn't spin but was discolored just like the crank.

I think this motor had a problem with water in the oil or something from a car that my friend bought. From what I gather the car it was in must have flooded or something at one point in the motor's life.

 

i use recondition rods before in 2 separate motors i never had a problem...if they done right go for it..

 

Heat treated lol if u just like building motors use them... But no way I would

 

I would use it at that power level.

 

In my opinion, that rod definately spun a bearing at some point in its life, and the previous owner just put a new set of bearings and/ or crank and let her eat again.... I dont see how you get that kinda heat into a rod without bearing failure. The bearing will be destroyed before the rod gets that kinda heat into it. Correct me if Im wrong.....
thanks.

 

Extreme vibration, crank pulley, flywheel unbalanced or transmission

X2

 

This is along the lines of what I'm thinking...But IDK, I never spun a bearing before (knock on wood)

 

LOL.. i wouldn't run that, even if i was paided.

See those markings? The metal of the rod has completely changed now.. i promise you the big end isn't within spec of the other rods.

Get a new rod, and new bolts and find a new machine shop.


I redid a d16z6 for a customer that another "local" shop put together. Had the exact heat markings as you.. Needed a new crank, new rod/rod bolts and bearings.. The big end was off by .039 from the other rods..ask your machine shop if they even measured the big ends on the rods..

 

I just tore my motor down the other day to find something similar had happened to one of my Carrillo Rods. Reusing it to me wasn't even an option. I threw it in the scrap pile and i am currently awaiting for my new one to arrive... which is taking forever may i add. Dealing with CP-Carrillo is a ****ing pain in the ***

 

i would trust what rick says

 

Where is EG1834?
He knows a thing or 2 about machine shops and building bottom ends...

Have you tried calling other machine shops? I'm curious as to what the real deal is...

 

What if they paided you a million bucks???