Installation Instructions for Howard's Rods

Please note: these instructions may be used to install any brand aluminum rod.

GRINDING CLEARANCE FOR BLOCK
A minimum of 1/16 of an inch clearance must be maintained between the connecting rods and the engine block and camshaft. Be sure you check this before balancing. If extreme problems are encountered, it is permissible, but not recommended to chamfer the head of the rod bolt at a 45 degree angle. It is sometimes helpful to remove material from around the bolt head and on the beam of the rod by grinding or machining. However, we do not recommed this.

 

CHECKING BEARING CLEARANCES
Using a micrometer & dial bore guage, be sure you have the following clearances for your application.

  1. A minimum of .003"-.0035" bearing clearance for Import and Small Block motors.
  2. A minimum of .0035"-.004" bearing clearance for Big Block motors
When rods are being used in a supercharged or heavy nitrous motor, increase clearance by at least .001"

 

CHECKING SIDE CLEARANCE

  1. Using a feeler guage, be sure you have at least .030"-.035" between the rods, when both rods are on the same crank throw. If the motor is in inline, with a single rods on each crank throw, be sure the big end of the rod is at least .015"-.020" narrower than the width of the crank throw.
When rods are being used in a supercharged or heavy nitrous motor, increase clearance by at least .010".

 

WRIST PIN CLEARANCE

  1. Aluminum rods are designed to run with full floating wrist pins, directly on the aluminum material. In most motors we recommend .0007"-.001". In supercharged, or naturally asperated motors that run very high RPM (with lite weight pins), we recommend .001"-.0013"

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ROD BOLT TORQUE SPECS

  1. We recommend using regular motor oil of 20w to 40w when assembling our rods.
  2. Make sure all threads are clean and lubricated. Be sure rod washer is also lubricated on both sides.
  3. Make sure the rod fork and cap serrations are clean and not nicked or flatttened.
  4. Torque bolts to following specs, for each rod bolt size:
5/16 Rod Bolt 32 to 37 ft lbs. 3/8 Rod Bolt 50 to 55 ft lbs.
7/16 Rod Bolt 70 to 75 ft lbs. 1/2 Rod Bolt 85 to 90 ft lbs.

 

NOTE: 90% OF ALL ROD FAILURES ARE DUE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  1. INCORRECT OIL PAN BAFFLING oil pan should be baffled in front and rear with trap doors, and additional baffels or a windage tray should be between the crankcase and oil pump.
  2. INCORRECT OIL PUMP PICK UP PLACEMENT the oil pump pick up should be located so as to remain submerged during acceleration. Being placed too low so as not to allow the enough area to feed newer style, high volume, racing pumps, as well as too high of placement will cause oil pump starvation.
  3. OIL CONTAMINATION oils used in alcohol or nitro applications should be changed every 1 to 3 runs, depending on the richness of the injector during idle, before full throttle acceleration.
  4. CYLINDER WALL FAILURE cylinder wall failure is an important factor in the failure of the rod. Frequently the impression is that the cylinder wall was pushed out because of rod failure, when in fact the rod was broken following a cylinder wall failure.

Warning: Any combination of items 1 to 3 will cause the rod bearing to gall, which will cause the bearing to sin, and lead to a rod failure.

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Howard's Aluminum Rods and Components
10116 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90003
(323) 755-1168
(323) 755-1936 fax
email us


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