TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anyone familiar with these connecting rods

Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:34 am

Purchased the following connecting rods from CIP. They don't have the small bump on the side of the connecting rod like the factory rods and I'm wondering about correct orientation for install. There is a small bump on the backside of the connecting rod within the valley of the I.

https://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C18-1254

C18-1254 - VW JOURNAL 5.4 INCH CHROMOLY FORGED I-BEAM CON-RODS W/180,000 PSI BOLTS - BEETLE STYLE PERFORMANCE ENGINE - SET OF 4

Also, does anyone know of a source for the wrist pin bushings or should the machine shop most likely have those on hand when I take them in to have them installed and honed?

Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:45 am

bearing tangs down, numbers up for the install

why would you have new rods machined ? they should be
good to go out of the box.

most VW oriented machine shops has the wrist pin
bushings in their stock, but they are available
from most of the VW vendors

Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:58 am

rockurob wrote: bearing tangs down, numbers up for the install

why would you have new rods machined ? they should be
good to go out of the box.

most VW oriented machine shops has the wrist pin
bushings in their stock, but they are available
from most of the VW vendors

Thanks.

Not having the rods machined. Just taking them to the machine shop to have the wrist pin bushings press fit, drilled for the oil holes and honed. It's my understanding this needs to be done to ensure proper fit with the wrist pins.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:05 am

mfergel wrote: rockurob wrote: bearing tangs down, numbers up for the install

why would you have new rods machined ? they should be
good to go out of the box.

most VW oriented machine shops has the wrist pin
bushings in their stock, but they are available
from most of the VW vendors

Thanks.

Not having the rods machined. Just taking them to the machine shop to have the wrist pin bushings press fit, drilled for the oil holes and honed. It's my understanding this needs to be done to ensure proper fit with the wrist pins.

If these are the AA rods, they are ready out of the box. Yes, you should still check them but you don't need to replace the wrist pin bushings. Oil holes are already drilled.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:29 am

[email protected] wrote: mfergel wrote: rockurob wrote: bearing tangs down, numbers up for the install

why would you have new rods machined ? they should be
good to go out of the box.

most VW oriented machine shops has the wrist pin
bushings in their stock, but they are available
from most of the VW vendors

Thanks.

Not having the rods machined. Just taking them to the machine shop to have the wrist pin bushings press fit, drilled for the oil holes and honed. It's my understanding this needs to be done to ensure proper fit with the wrist pins.

If these are the AA rods, they are ready out of the box. Yes, you should still check them but you don't need to replace the wrist pin bushings. Oil holes are already drilled.

There are actually no wrist pin bushings that came with the rods, which is why I need to get some. I'd imagine I wouldn't want to reuse the old ones from my stock rods.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:48 am

Time to return the rods as they are SUPPOSED to have the bushings already.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:55 am

mfergel wrote:

There are actually no wrist pin bushings that came with the rods

Have the machine shop measure the holes, then you can go look for bushings.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:04 am

modok wrote: mfergel wrote:

There are actually no wrist pin bushings that came with the rods

Have the machine shop measure the holes, then you can go look for bushings.

Not at home right now. Can't tell from the box but are these AA? They look like it. Product description doesn't indicate they were supposed to have bearings or not.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:06 am

They are supposed to have the wrist pin bushing already installed. The actual bearing must be purchased separately and sized to the crank rod journal.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:46 am

AlteWagen wrote: They are supposed to have the wrist pin bushing already installed. The actual bearing must be purchased separately and sized to the crank rod journal.

AlteWagen is correct

AND your set are AA
The wrist pin bushing(brass in color) are very thin, if not there I would
contact your seller and send back.

I have a set of these I ordered from John @ aircooled.net, the shorter
5.325 for his 74 stroker suggested build.

I was surprised that there is only one oil hole at the wrist pin bushing
and not three compared to a vw rod. Wondering? about oil starvation
excessive wear in the wrist pin bushing area ??
Has anyone drilled the AA rods and added 2 more holes to make same
as vw ? or is this not needed ????

Mine are still in the box waiting for my build.... :wink:

Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:30 am

Yes, they only have one oil hole. I have been using them for 10 years and never drilled more holes. Actually, just rebuilt two engines I built 10 years ago with AA rods and they are fine.

I'm sure your wrist pins bushings are already installed. They do not look like stock rods with the thick bushing you can see.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:38 am

[email protected] wrote: Yes, they only have one oil hole. I have been using them for 10 years and never drilled more holes. Actually, just rebuilt two engines I built 10 years ago with AA rods and they are fine.
.

Roy, thanks.....always reassuring to hear feedback from actual
usage and inspection after an engine tear down

Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:47 am

rockurob wrote: AlteWagen wrote: They are supposed to have the wrist pin bushing already installed. The actual bearing must be purchased separately and sized to the crank rod journal.

AlteWagen is correct

AND your set are AA
The wrist pin bushing(brass in color) are very thin, if not there I would
contact your seller and send back.

I have a set of these I ordered from John @ aircooled.net, the shorter
5.325 for his 74 stroker suggested build.

I was surprised that there is only one oil hole at the wrist pin bushing
and not three compared to a vw rod. Wondering? about oil starvation
excessive wear in the wrist pin bushing area ??
Has anyone drilled the AA rods and added 2 more holes to make same
as vw ? or is this not needed ????

Mine are still in the box waiting for my build.... :wink:

I'll double check again. I emailed CIP and they said they come with the bushing and honed. These bearings must be paper thin as I couldn't see them. Also told me that these rods are "ambidextrious" and orientation doesn't matter. I'll still just install them numbers up with the dimple towards the flywheel.

Thanks guys.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:52 am

the pin hole should be brass/copper/bronze in color.if not send them back, no new holes required.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:26 am

Put a wrist pin in one. If it is loose you have a problem but I tend to doubt it will be. Dan

Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:20 pm

My AA's were good to go right from the box... Conversation with "AA" said to put bearing tangs down....

Dale

Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:39 pm

They have bushings in them. it's visible in the picture

Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:56 am

Thanks guys. Ran a wrist pin into them last night and looks like I'm good to go. One less thing to worry about.

Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:16 am

modok wrote: They have bushings in them. it's visible in the picture

I was trying to see (gold/bronze) in
dem der rods(wrist pin area)
in the photo and you actually
observed...I could not see good enough
to actually confirm.
Guess it is time to get a new computer monitor
or new glasses :shock: :)

Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:34 am

rockurob wrote: modok wrote: They have bushings in them. it's visible in the picture

I was trying to see (gold/bronze) in
dem der rods(wrist pin area)
in the photo and you actually
observed...I could not see good enough
to actually confirm.
Guess it is time to get a new computer monitor
or new glasses :shock: :)

Don't feel bad. Even in person it was hard for me to see. They do say 1 out of every 20 men is color blind. :)