Re: Car Craft 360 AMC Build

[dsoutherland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

On November 22, 2005 Frank Swygert wrote:

> I checked on clearances last night. Without welding the Chevy rods you'd have about 0.10" of clearance on a 360 rod journal. Obviously to much! Conversely, the 390/401 journal is narrower! Using Chevy rods on a 390/401 crank requires NARROWING the big ends. I like that idea a lot more than welding the rods though. I wonder if a wide insert bearing could be made forthe Chevy rods, and if it would last??


I personally know of two drag racers, one with an IHRA Super Stock Car and the other with an NHRA Super Stock car using SBC rods in 343 and a 290 engines with no welding and no problems.  Both cars spin 7000+ rpms on every run and show no abnormal bearing wear.  I dynoed a 290 last year with SBC rods (.100" + side clearance) over 60 pulls with no adverse problems.  Car Craft themselves covered a budget build-up of a BB Chrysler a couple of years ago where rods from another engine type (BBC or Oldsmobile) were used with an offset ground 440 crank in a 400 block that had over .070" rod side clearnace and indicated that it would be no problem other than extra oil on the cylinder walls.

Although the large side clearance is not what would be most desirable, experience shows it to interject less of a structural weakness than seems to be feared.


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