Technical manley vs crower rods I beam

if both were already on the shelf and money wasn’t a factor.
which I beam rod would you choose for a small block chevy 327.
manley sportsmaster or
crower ???
any experience with either brand positive or otherwise let me
know your thoughts.
basically both were already purchased
as bargain finds, someone didn’t realize what they were worth. They cost me about the same as a stock rod and a resize would have. One set is going into a possible resell motor being built and one set a motor I am keeping.
which rods are the keeper.
both are new in the box still.
if anyone tells me crower is made in the usa and manley is offshore
then the decision would be obvious
both are same size and bronze bushed for floaters. but design is a bit different
manley is a cap screw style
crower is a through rod bolt style
both are older forgings with shelf dusty boxes crower probably late 90’s era the manleys are stamped inside the box made early 2000
crower set has a lot more material on thrust shoulder on the big end
manleys are more stock in design in that area

 

Both are very good rods.
I bought a set of Crower "I" beam rods for my engine that I'm building.
My Crower's were machined right there in the San Diego area. As are ALL crower rods. They charge a little more, and that's because they are designed and machined right here in the USA.

Don't let anyone talk you into buying "H" beam. While they might be...ok for lower horsepower engines, as an Aerospace (retired) engineer, I'd never buy an "H" beam rod. They are backward (or actually sideways !)..!

I'm not positive, but I do believe that Manley is also made in the US. I know that their performance valves, springs, locks, retainers, etc. are.

Mike

 

Both are good. A capscrew rod typically gives you more cam clearance, but in a 327 that's usually not an issue.

 

I'd probably also look at weight, go with whichever will fit your balance picture better if that might be a factor.
Second criteria would be whichever has the better bolts.

Otherwise, I think it is just a flip of the coin, both will survive anything a stock 327 block and/or crank is capable of handling naturally aspirated, so they certainly won't be a weak link.

The Manley's are forged in China if they are roughly 16-17 years old or less, then finish machined in the US. Manley first dealt with China for H-beam rods in 1999 for the Ford SVT Cobra rods.

Manley, ****, Callies, Molnar all get most of their forgings from china and finish machine here in the US for their entry level and mid level stuff. Top tier is usually all US.

Crower is all US, as is Oliver.

The Chinese are pretty good at forging, hell they invented steel/iron casting and forging long before anyone else did it...where they lack is finish machining quality control.

Nobody's stainless steel valves are made in the USA, just ***anium.

Manley's valves come from Argentina, and have for over 30 years.

 

I've been using **** rods myself, even the lower level ones are nicely finished off. Manley and Crower do have decades of experience and success, really cannot go wrong with either.

 

@Mike VV

I know what you are saying about 'sideways', but would you care to elaborate on the shortcomings of the 'H' beam construction?
Was that one of those, "Everybody's going that way and they're expensive, so they must be better" deals?
Fred Carrillo sure made a bunch of money making and selling them.

 

Both should be fine in a 327. I would use the Manleys and sell the Crowers- they are worth more.

As for H beam vs I beam, I have run an FEA on connecting rods before. The high stress area I observed was where the rod tapers from the crank pin to the rod beam itself. On a H beam, there are two thin slices of metal that take that stress vs. an I beam that has a wide section of metal. I prefer an I beam, but H beams are popular because they don't look stock. (As told by aftermarket rod manufacturers.)

 

after inspecting both rod sets as much as the screw cap design may be better designed for stroker clearance
thats not a issue in my 327 builds
so the fact that crowers are more rebuildable ie with a oem style through bolt (fully replaceable bolt and nut design) and 100% usa made thats a clear winner !!! they are also significantly more expensive new. if a cap screw designed rod bolt fails strips or breaks a bolt in the hole its probably gonna be s**** pile or a pita to extract
where the crowers in that scenario just punch out the old one and buy new hardware.
long term I think the crower is a beefier and better design.

 

Well I always loved anything with the Crower name on it.
Quality products through and through,,,,,also made in California,,,the home of high performance quality racing parts .
I’m with MikeVV on his thinking .

A lot of experts were located there,,,,it’s a shame that so many have p***ed away in the last several years .
Bruce Crower was a cl*** act,,,,,and always sold a well designed,,,well made part .
I like the Manley stuff too,,,,I’m not running them down by any means .

But,,,I always had respect for Crower ,,,,,,yep,,,,,top notch in my book .

Tommy