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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:06 am
by prostreetL-78
Bernard Mondello wrote:The Howard's Ultimate billet connecting rods are 100% USA made; from the billet forgings they use to the heat treat, stress relieving & machining. We've used Howard's rods in many of our engines in the last 5 years. As an engine builder, it is imperative to me that when we recommend or use a part, we know that it is made from USA produced material and it is manufactured in the USA. Howard's meets both those criteria. We sell several sets of these a month, all over the country to happy customers.
We also sell Crower and Manley, etc. Quick note on that. Howard's is a fully machined, forged billet connecting rod, whereby the other two (Manley & Crower rods listed in above post) are American forgings, but more of an OEM style connecting rod. Sorry for the long post......
Just to clarify, a billet rod doesn't come from a forging. It comes from raw stock that is rough cut to shape and then fully profile machined to the final product. I also don't see on Howard's website where the 4340 material necessarily is from the US, but it might be. I worked for many years in a manufacturing background and it can be difficult to source purely US material. Some of the best machining and most consistent materials I have worked with have come from Israel.
I do, however, very much appreciate companies that take every measure to control quality by doing as much as they can in house.
Brent
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:29 pm
by MadBill
OK, the clock is running! How long 'till our vigilant SPAMKILLERS eradicate the preceding post and its five clones in other threads?
Also, it may be a matter of semantics, but the process related to me by Carrillo circa 1977 re their rod manufacturing method described so much metal removal in several steps from the initial rough forging that it could be considered a 'forged billet'...
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:05 am
by SWR
MadBill wrote:OK, the clock is running! How long 'till our vigilant SPAMKILLERS eradicate the preceding post and its five clones in other threads?
Stop the clock. Thanks Bill, to get to kill some spammers are a nice birthday present..
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:16 am
by MadBill
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:28 am
by Engines Unlimited
Check out Callies new ULTRA rod. Looks like a great rod for the price but not sure what apps. they have in stock yet.
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:52 am
by Engines Unlimited
Just talked w Callies-they didnt think they would have Ultra rods in stock untill March. No info on their web site yet - give Art or Brook a call @ Callies and Im sure they would get you a flier and info. This is not a Compstar rod.
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:52 am
by bigblockwagon
A non Chinese callies rod would be nice if it comes anywhere close to the Howards in price. Have heard good things about the machining quality of the Compstar rods, but I can't get over my mistrust of Chinese iron. I will be using a Callies Magnum crank in this motor.
Scott
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 10:33 am
by bubbabbc
FWIW, I put a set of 6.800" long Callies CompStar I beam rods in a 535 CID 800+ hp Ford truck pulling engine. N/A on gas. Good results so far. I suggest you call Callies and talk to either Brook or Duane about your application, and see what they recommend. They are two of the best, all fact no fiction.
