Last night I needed to install some ARP rod bolts in my Chevy 350 rods. Since the nearest automotive machine shop is 120 miles away, I needed to come up with something I could use. I welded up some s**** angle, flat bar and 1" square bar stock s****s and used a small 4 ton jack to make this. The red anodized piece is an old MX missile part, but anything with a 13/32 or 7/16 hole in it would probably work. A little WD-40, a few pumps of the handle, and the new bolts are in.
Question! Ain't you suppose to re-size the bore with a Sunnen hone machine after changing rod bolts??? I believe it's common practice to do so.... Yes???... No??? Let's hear everyone's opinion on the matter. Thanks!
Thanks Pro! Anyone else??? I read an article once about grinding off .003" on the connecting rod mating ends before installing new rod bolts.. And then honing the bore size back too the stock diameter....
Slick looking rod bolt press nmpontiac! If you're just putting the same type of bolts back in the big ends won't change much or at all. Still need to check your clearances before re***embly though. However, if you're replacing stock bolts with high strength ones the higher clamp load will distort the big ends. When switching to ARP's I always cut the mating surfaces, torque 'em up, then hone the big ends back to spec.
Thanks guys, I do have access to a Sunnen machine, the guy with it is a real hit or miss proposition as to whether he's in the shop or not. I thought I'd inside mike them and see what they measure. And yes, someone has already asked to borrow the press.
Sounds like a good plan! Mic them in several places. My experience with high strength bolts is that they open up the bore in the thrust direction, and close the bore at the parting line.
Arnold gauge - remember, this is rural New Mexico. Around here an Arnold gauge is probably used to determine how much a pig weighs at the county fair! I did go measure very carefully with my Starrett snap gauges and 436 mic. I came up with 2.2271 on the thrust axis and 2.2275 on the parting line. I think I'll measure one of the stock ones (I still had 2 not done) and see what it says. And I expect the local guy has some sort of bore gauge if he's got the Sunnen hone. But he hasn't called me back yet.
This is an Arnold Gauge. More commonly known as a Sunnen AG-300. If he's got the rod hone he should have the gauge too >>>>.
Yes, I'd expect that he would - I measured one of the untouched rods and it reads 2.2273 thrust & 2.2280 parting line. And I really do appreciate the input. While this is pretty much a stocker rebuild, I'd like to get it as right as I reasonably can.
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