I know that the best way to build a stroker MEL is to go with smaller crank rod journals or offset rods or both, but does anyone know max stroke with stock rods to use as a benchmark to determine max stroke with other con rods?
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
Holman and Moody ran a MEL stroker in their Daytona T-bird that was a 505 cubic inch beast. I am told that was stock bore and a 4.350 stroke. I do not have info on whether stock rods were used. I know that somebody associated with Al Gonzalez ran a stroker MEL in a blown and injected boat on the Salton Sea. TJR
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
"smaller crank rod journals or offset rods or both"
Needs some clarification.
To use the stock rod (or any rod with the same rod journal size of 2.600") you need the crank's rod journals welded to a larger diameter, then offset-ground back to 2.600".
If you offset-grind the rod journals to a smaller size, you can't use the stock rods - you need a rod with the smaller size.
There is no modification to the rod itself that has any effect on stroke - there is no such thing as an offset rod.
The extra stroke is equal to the difference in journal sizes, less perhaps .005" to clean up the outside of the original surface.
You need the rod width, length and pin sizes to be about the same unless you're using a custom piston so this limits choices. The 430 rod is 6.60".
Example only, may not be practical:
The FF 385 rod is 6.605", but has a 2.500" journal. You only get .100" extra stroke; the 430 stroke (3.701") becomes 3.801", the 462 stroke (3.830") becomes 3.930".
The FE rod is only slightly smaller, and also narrower. The other modern Ford rods look too narrow to be useful.
The Chrysler 440 rod is slightly longer (6.768"), the 383/400 rod slightly shorter (6.358"), both are 2.375" journal. Stroke increase: .225"; 430 stroke becomes 3.926", 462 becomes 4.055".
The late Pontiac rod is 6.625", 2.25" journal; stroke increase .350"; 430 becomes 4.051", 462 becomes 4.180".
The BBC rod is very short but aftermarkets are available in many lengths. Journal is 2.20"; stroke increase .400"; 430 becomes 4.101", 462 becomes 4.230".
A 462 at +.060" overbore with BBC rods: 4.44" × 4.23" is 524".
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
With the stock MEL con rods. Ive been told that 45 degree / 135 degree offset con rods offer a minimum of 0.400 extra stroke potential. What Id like to know is the max stroke with a billet crank with full size 2.600 MEL rod journals with 45*/135* offset billet con rods. Thank you for your reply, rkl307.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
