French 8BA rods.

I'm building a 265" flathead with 4" crank and L-100 cam. I bought a set of new French rods from Vern Tardel as the cost of refurbishing used rods is getting nuts. Everything has been fitted up and measured. This is the first time I have used new rods and I actually have minimum side clearance at the crank of .007-.009". Usually the used rods are flopping around in there due to wear. The bushings are perfect and thew lower end is actually round. Maybe I ought to buy new stuff more often. I think these are a good deal while they last.

 

Rodders and racers back in the day when Ford parts were cheap and available used to insist on new rods for a different reason--the integral bolts. Used properly, they lasted forever, but there was no way to tell if some previous mechanic had overtightened them and they could not be replaced as insurance!

 

I've been meaning to order a set for a while. I just haven't gotten around it. This is going to force me to do it.

Tim

 

Seems I've heard that the French engines with 4" cranks used short rods and standard Ford pin height pistons. Be careful.

 

Some did.

Some also used longer lifters & shorter valves!

 

Well, that is some good advice! Mine are correct, however, as I just ***embled the lower end this morning. Longer lifters and shorter valves?? Why in the world would they do that?

 

its french...what more can you say? i got a couple of sets that showed up today. seems like a bargain compared to the last set i had redone

 

We've run into a few of the short rods. Rest ***ured, each set sold is 8 of the standard length.