Clueless on these rods

I've been around long enough,too damn long really. But what the hell are these "pink" connecting rods I've seen for sale? Damn things are $8oo.oo a set. ARP bolts sure, but $800.00?? Help me out here. These things don't appear to be polished or shot-peened.
Wenatcheewalt

 

HD Chevy rods that have a "pink" paint marker..

 

The "Pink" rods I believe were factory performance rods, I don't remember where the pink designation came from though. They were the best back in the day, but these days for $800, you can get aftermarket rods that will be much more durable.

*edit...Krooser answered my first statment

 

"PINK" rods were Racings rods and internals by Ed Pink engine builder.

 

there an over the counter chevy high performance rod the pink color comes from the magnaflux ,there also shot peened, with heaver duty bolts. other than that they nothing more than a stock 350 rod .for $800.00 they can keep them. latter dave

 

they were processed a bit more thoroughly on the ***embly line, as mentioned...the pink is a dab of paint used to identify them so they were only put in the high hp engines or sold over the counter for extra $$$.

They were a good deal back in the 70s...now they're overpriced.

 

I think I read they were hand sorted to make sure the forging and machining were centered as well.

 

when you drop em they hit the floor and go kapink..ok that was uncalled for

 

Err, no. When people refer to "pink" rods, they're talking about GM Performance Parts.

To answer the original question, $800 will damn near buy ***anium Crowers.... a decent stock design rod can be had from **** and 50 other manufacturers for ~$250

 

Chevrolet "pink" rods, used from '69-82, were installed in the first and second generation z-28 motors as well as the high performance corvette motors with engine codes L-64, L-82, and most notibly, LT1 (not the 2nd gen rev. flow) They're forged steel, shot peened, magnafluxed, heat treated, and equipped with high RPM rod bolts. Named due to the pink dot applied to the rod caps at the factory so as not to be confused with standard service rods during ***embly of the motors.

 

no they weren't if that was the case they would be a LOT more than 800 bux, he all but ruined Midget racing with his 40 thousand dollar 4 bangers

 

Thanx for the edu, I was wondering bout all of different answers myself.
I worked @ a GM Buick/Chevy dealership 82-98, in 90 I took a 350 eng out of a G-Van because the customer kept complaining. Engine went to warranty .
@ the same time, a 2nd customer comes in and says his van is pinging, he has a brand new engine bought over the counter @ parts just 2 weeks B4.
I had to pull that one out too. Well low & behold, It's a ZZ3 which did infact come with the steel crank 4 bolt mains pinkrods good pistons as well a aluminum heads.
Knuckle head was running his van on regular- go figure, He wouldn't take that for an answer. So being the people pleaser that we are we couldn't legally install the ZZ3 in a street car, so between Van #1 & #2 I just warrantied 2 engines. Zone rep came in for his audit, inquires about the 2 engine jobs, I show the old blocks & cranks, He tell me to discard the ZZ3, so I did right into my 69 Camaro after having it all align bored.Cylinders trued & the like. Man those pink rods were very nice, I've had that engine in for nearly 16yrs & no problems what so ever. It has a good a factory roller cam from a 91? Z/28 and and aluminum heads never made it from my bench to the the new engine, Shop Foreman wanted those for himself, gave me a brand new cast iron heads, they too have been working fine
Sure do like them free pink rods though

 

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!!!

That's a good story... Gonna have to tell my dad that one. You just can't beat that. My first job was as a night watchman at our local chevrolet dealership. I used to watch the guys that worked there pull stuff off of traded in cars and "warranty" replacements that'd make a person have to bite their finger to keep from screaming NO, I WANT THAT!!! I remember one night I was at the dealership, it was my night off but I dropped by to keep the guy that was working company. We got to checking all the locks, like ya do, and stumbled onto an odd key. After about an hour of looking for the lock that it fit we notice a shipping container sitting out behind the body shop. One of those like you see being hauled on the flatbed train cars. So we go over and find that the key fits the lock. "hell man, open it up." I said. So, he does.. 10 feet tall, 8 feet wide, 20 feet long... and stacked full of GM crate motors... ZZ3's, 502's, 454SS replacement motors... I couldn't leave the trailer... it was like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.. how could you just... LEAVE???

Damn my parents for raising me with morals... I'd of liked one of those 502's....

Glad I could help you though , and hell yeah you can't beat free, especially when its high end factory race parts. Short of a catistrophic failure don't let that shortblock outta your hands. Steel rods... steel crank... 4 bolt block... FREE!?!?! I'm so jelious....