Race Engine Forum UK

Hello,

I want to rebuild the 1608cc in my 1973 road use Fiat 124. The engine has been previously rebuilt and has over 300,000 miles on the original connecting rods, camshafts and crankshaft (neither ever reground). It has been run at stock power levels with a compression ratio of 8.9:1 and a single carburetor. I want to increase the compression ratio to nearly 10:1 and use my Alquati 40/80-80/40 camshafts (or possibly use stock exhaust). I will initially be using a Weber 32/36 DFEV while dreaming of an individual throttle body fuel injection conversion.

Assuming the best of operating conditions, do you think these rods have probably served their purpose and it would be wise to start over with new ones?


Thank you,
Steve

Depends, doesn't it? 300,000 steady miles is not necessarily a factor but hard-driven (often re-lined) is another matter. One might reject race rods from Carillo say, on cost grounds, though that is never a good argument - given what rods do.

Use them only if budget prohibits race rods - if they are full-floating pins that is, because they are proportionally stronger than the rather risk-prone old 2 liter 90mm stroke rods, being a shorter (80mm) stroke and a shorter rod too. I'd not re-use press-fit ones unless very low mileage - which yours certainly isn't.

I suggest you size check the big ends and crack test them & bolts too, and torque up with a good quality wrench eg: Snap On.

GC