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MConstable
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004
Posts: 1822
Location: Saint Charles IL
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 Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 6:32 am Post subject: AA h beam rods? |
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Hey guys, I know there have been problems lately with their I beam rods, but how about the H beam rods?
And how is their 4340 crankshaft quality?
Thanks
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67rustavenger 
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 9755
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| MConstable wrote: |
Hey guys, I know there have been problems lately with their I beam rods, but how about the H beam rods?
And how is their 4340 crankshaft quality?
Thanks |
I'm currently installing these exact items in my 2180...Again.
I had a couple hundred miles on them and upon disassembly, all looked good.
I used the 5.4" rods and an 82mm CW crankshaft.
The rods were perfectly balanced right out of the box.
The crankshaft needed a little fine tuning at the balance shop.
Make sure to check the crank oil galley's. The galley plugs are likely a little deep seated in the crank. Scrub the galley's "really" well and reassemble.
Good Luck.
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MConstable
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004
Posts: 1822
Location: Saint Charles IL
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 11:00 am Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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Thanks!
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Lingwendil
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Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3988
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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bugguy1967
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2008
Posts: 4341
Location: Los Angeles, CA 90016
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 11:23 am Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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What's the fascination with them? Don't they cost just as much a CB rods?
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Frank Bassman
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Joined: July 01, 2012
Posts: 893
Location: Miami
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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Well, CB doesn't carry 5.325 in H beam I believe.
-Frank |
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 9755
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| bugguy1967 wrote: |
| What's the fascination with them? Don't they cost just as much a CB rods? |
Actually the AA "H" beam rods are more expensive than the CB rods right now.
The funny thing is. I cannot find the 5.325" rods on AA's site.
But Cb does have them.
I bought mine on sale during the Christmas sale season. So they were likely less than the CB rods at the time.
Honestly I cannot see any difference between the two vendors rods. Other than the CB logo on the CB rods. The AA's just have the length laser etched on them.
Maybe they are made in the same Chinese factory!
Good Luck.
EDIT: Yet another funny observation. The AA 4340 crankshafts are $40.00 less than the CB 4340 crankshafts. At least in 82mm stroke. So the overall price is a wash in the long run.
Just sayin!
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
Last edited by 67rustavenger on Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Lingwendil
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Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3988
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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vwracerdave
Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004
Posts: 15303
Location: Deep in the 405
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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You need to look very close when you buy rods. Some have real ARP rod bolts and some have cheap Chinese rod bolts. There is a major difference in quality. Some vendors sell balanced sets, some vendors just sell 4 rods.
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esde
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Joined: October 20, 2007
Posts: 5967
Location: central rust belt
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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What size bolts do the AA rods have? I know the CB are 5/16, and the Scat are 3/8.
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 9755
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| esde wrote: |
| What size bolts do the AA rods have? I know the CB are 5/16, and the Scat are 3/8. |
It's optional with AA. The choice is yours to make.
I used the 5/16th on my 2180.
You can also select ARP fasteners. If you wish.
Good Luck.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
Last edited by 67rustavenger on Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Pruneman99
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Joined: February 22, 2012
Posts: 5013
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 12:11 am Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| Lingwendil wrote: |
| Good to hear they are good quality, I'm looking to eventually do a 74mm or 76mm crank, 5.325" rods, and 90.5mm piston/cylinder based build using all AA parts at some point. |
The 76mm crank, 5.5" rods, and "B" height pistons results in a nearly perfect deck height, stock width engine. |
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wheel607
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 1847
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:15 am Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| For the 5.325 rods check Empi also....same rods, just order with the Arp fasteners. All rods come from same Chinese factory....so I've been told by someone I trust. Not all vendors carry this size rod in H beam. |
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wheel607
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 1847
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:15 am Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| For the 5.325 rods check Empi also....same rods, just order with the Arp fasteners. All rods come from same Chinese factory....so I've been told by someone I trust. Not all vendors carry this size rod in H beam. |
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vince1
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Joined: December 14, 2003
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Location: Burgundy, France
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Lingwendil
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Joined: February 25, 2009
Posts: 3988
Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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bugguy1967
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2008
Posts: 4341
Location: Los Angeles, CA 90016
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| Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:21 am Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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You cam visually see the difference in the rod finish and quality from an AA/EMPI H-beam and a CB. Inspect the mating sufaces. Are they as flat as CB's? Look at the rod bolts. Are they rolled steel, like CBs, or do they look cut? How smooth/flat are the bolt flanges? Look at the shot-peening on the bodies of the rods. All CB rods have lines in the big ends from running dial bore gauges through them. Never seen any other rod with those.
I have two new sets of CB 5.325" H-beams. They do make them.
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v8nate
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Joined: September 25, 2011
Posts: 104
Location: marysville wa
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 12:11 am Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| I've ran a set of stock aa heads with no problem(supercharged) I'm building a motor right now with aa 4340 80mm crank, aa 4340 5.4 rods, aa 90.5 pistons, and aa 40x35 heads. Heads need alot of cleanup but for the price I cant complain too much and all the clearances are coming out perfect |
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Simon DeCasas
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 58
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:15 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| I found a set of 5.5" rods but how do I know which side goes up? i know the stock ones have the tang but these are just blank they were in an AA box but dont look it and they look new. |
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 9755
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: AA h beam rods? |
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| Simon DeCasas wrote: |
| I found a set of 5.5" rods but how do I know which side goes up? i know the stock ones have the tang but these are just blank they were in an AA box but dont look it and they look new. |
The AA "H" beam rods are straight up. Meaning the is no incorrect direction.
When I install them, I orient them with the rod and cap match numbers facing up.
I'm weird that way! 
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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