Connecting rods

[rbrunckhorst]

Hey, does anybody know the difference between H-beam and I-beam forged rods?

[Ron61]

The April 2002 issue of Hot Rod Magazine has a good article in it about rods and the different kinds. The article starts on page # 40.

[rbrunckhorst]

Thanks for the reference. Unfortunately I don't have readily available the April 2002 issue of Hot Rod Magazine, being somewhat new to the custom car scene. If anybody could elaborate on the the difference between H-beam and I-beam rods it would be greatly appreciated.

[Mr.Fixit]

99% of factory con rods are "I" beam. Cross section the con rod midway through the beam, and you will see that it has the shape of an "I" Good aftermarket rods are usually "H" beam, meaning the cross section has the shape of the letter "H" Look at a picture of a Carillo rod or an Eagle rod, those are H-beam, your factory ford rods are I-beam.

[speed220mph]

Stock rods traditonally used the I-beam design such as those in FE and small-block Ford engines. The flange, or the short section at the top and bottom of the "I" is parallel to the crank journal and the web is positioned across the journal. H-beam rods are like a wide-flange beam, or an "I" with the tops and bottoms much longer and turned 90 degrees so the web section is perpendicular to the crank throw and the web parallel to it. This design is typical of Carillo rods and those installed in the Ford SOHC and DOHC modular engines.

[rbrunckhorst]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I have reconditioned factory rods.