Hi all,

I am contemplating a new set of connecting rods for my engines and have been looking at the Manley Pro series 300M rods. They are an I beam design, made from 300M alloy, stronger and much cheaper than the carillo rod, and nearly as light (low 600 grams for FJ20 dimensions). They rate them to 1400 hp + for the 4G63 engine ! Some information on them here:

http://www.importperformanceparts.net/imports/manleyrods-mitsu300.html

as well as the bottom of page 126 in the Manley catalogue

http://www.manleyperformance.com/dl/2009/2009_catalog.pdf

I contacted Manley and they say they can do sets for the FJ20 (with 22 mm piston pin) and FJ24 (with 23.5 mm piston pin) provided there is a minimum run of 24 rods. I can take care of 3 sets straight away using the bigger pin. Would there be 3 or more people out there in the market for a rod upgrade at a price of around $310 AUD each + a contribution towards freight ? Thats a very high quality rod at a price that is significantly cheaper than carillos etc., and far better than a new set of bolts and a resize/shotpeen of your tired old and heavy FJ20/FJ24 ones.

Please contact me if you're interested in the group buy - I would need a deposit, lets say $300, as a downpayment to make sure you're serious.

Let your FJ20/24 frends know and e-mail me ben@digsfish.com if you're interested. Ring me on 0403773592 if you want to chat. I would like to get the ball rolling within a few weeks if possible so lets get cracking.

Ben D

Alternatively, if everyone orders at the same time, you could send a deposit direct to Manley, but I would need to know about it to co-ordinate the order to ensure the minimum run of 6 sets is met, or indeed if more rods are required (in which case we need to know in advance - unit price would them become even cheaper !!!).

Good value, I've ordered a set for the George Fury Datsun 120y
FJ24 Blydenstein motor as fitted by Nissan Australia Competition Dept.
Now being restored and rebuilt with BenD's looking after the motor!

Hey Ben is that $310 per rod? or per set of rods.. Im thinking per rod as $310 per set sounds to cheap for such good quality. If it is for a set i recon i will get a set

Paul.

The price is per rod. However after further negotiations Manley have agreed to provide two options in the minimum run of 24, these being an ultimate 300M rod for FJ20/24 with the bigger 23.5 mm pin and ARP 625+ rod bolts for $300 USD/rod, and one with the 22 mm pin and ARP 2000 rod bolts for $260 USD/rod. That way they can cater for not only all out racing engines like mine and the FJ24s, but also people on more modest budgets who want a rod stronger than a carillo, but at around 1/2 the price. I will co ordinate the people interested, but people can place their deposits direct with Manley if they want (once we reach the mimnimum run size) if they don't want to deal through a third party.

I'm not looking to make any money out of this, I just want a couple of sets of the best rod for my application, but need some help to arrive at the minimum order number. So we need 3 more people, who else is interested ?? E-mail me ben@digsfish.com or reply if you are.

Ben why didn't you decide to do this a few months ago I would of been in for sure.On another note I just wanted to know what type of vavle springs and retainers you used on your engine as I need to find something stronger than standard?
Thanks Brad

We are looking very close to signing this deal off, looks like I'll get 2 more takers soon, meaning we need only one more person to put their hand up to make it happen.

re: my engine, I have used performance springs for the last couple of engines with no complaints, stock retainers for all engines except I am now trialling the kameari titanium retainer in the latest engine. Just about to pull it all down for checking so will let you know about how the titanium retainer is going.

Thanks for the info Ben much appreciated.

Ben,
how do you compare these to the Spool rods currently on offer (at half the prices you are quoting).
Surely they are worth looking into?
What is their limitations?

Spool rods - I wouldn't touch them for my application. These Manley 300M rods are made using the highest quality steel alloy by a reputed manufacturer who will stand behind the product when used in the most demanding applications. You can go use the spool rods if you want, but they'd be guaranteed to break in our application, my engine reconditioning friends say their small ends need rebushing at even modest power levels which tells me they are an inferior product. When you put so much work into engine building, it doesn't make sense to put a rod in there that could make mincemeat of it all in quick time.

Come on people only a couple more to go !

Get a letter of manufacture spec on the spools, I use Wako/Briggs Cunningham in my L series race engines,(certified) far superior to Spools in build and finish, on par with Argo.
The Manley units are just plain better again
When you hold all of them against each other, and inspect the surface finishes, the thread details, the finish to the edges/stress riseres) etc, you do see the difference.
I'm getting a set of the Manley's(peace of mind/insurance) for a very rare FJ24 motor rebuild, I'll keep the original FJ24 rods wrapped and shelved

Ben,
at what power level or 'application' are the Spool rods good for exactly?
Are they better than standard rods at all?
I ask this as several people are running around 250-300rwkw's with standard rods.
Surely the Spool rods arent that bad for some moderate power increase?
Have you seen any broken spool rods?
Whats wrong with the bushes that they need to be replaced?
I havent seen anything like this yet, which is why im interested.
Their website seems pretty convincing.
I'm not having a go, just wondering how they compare.
Cheers.


http://www.spoolimports.com/content/SPOOLFJ20DETCONRODS.asp






SPOOL RODS:


High tensile 4340 forged steel

2 Piece forging

Hardness of HRC33-38

Doweled cap for precision alignment

X-RAY & Sonic tested

Quenching and heat treated

Shot peened

100% Magnafluxed

Silicon bronze bushing


Weight Matched Sets + - 1 gram

Sizing + - 0.0001"







"SPOOL " CONNECTING RODS ARE TRIED AND PROVEN HIGH PERFORMANCE FORGED STEEL CONNECTING RODS FOR TUFF STREET / STRIP ENGINE APPLICATIONS.

THEY ARE MADE FROM A 2 PIECE CHROMEMOLY STEEL FORGING TO ENSURE MAXIMUM STRENGTH AND DURABILITY AND COME STANDARD WITH ARP 2000 FASTNERS.



Forged Steel rods - begin life as bars of SAE certified 4340 Steel ( high carbon which is far superior to the low carbon 51 series steel used in most OEM forged rods ) that pass through a rolling forge die. This compacts the molecular structure and establishs a uniform, longitudinal grain flow. The bars are then heated to a plasticized state, inserted into a female die and pressed into the near final shape while a punch locates and knocks out the big end bore. In doing this the grain flow at the big end is redirected in a circular pattern, like wood fibres surrounding a knot , and excellent compressive / tensile strength results. Finally the rod is put through CNC machining and finished to the final spec.

Wouldn't have a clue what the spool rods are good for and personally I am not going to find out. I only know that they need rebushing more frequently than the highest quality rods like carillos, and I am looking at replacements for my carillos, so they are not for me. The reason why I let everyone know about the 300M rods is this is an opportunity to buy the best possible rod available for a very reasonable price, provided we get 2 more people to agree to take up the offer. In my experience conrods are really not the place to try and save $, real false economy if/when they let go.
I have had people ring me, but no firm followups. Lets get the show on the road people.

OK ! We are on the way with the FJ20/24 rod buy. We have reached the minimum order quantity and Fabre Australia (local Manley Distributor) will be assisting by bringing the rods into Australia. Having said that, there is still a short period of time during which you may be able to order your own sets, but you'd need to act fast (at this stage it is not certain that Fabre will stock the parts, but they will certainly bring n the sets for those who have ordered and put in their deposits).

Any latecomers who might still want to order their own sets of rods can contact David Athanasio at Fabre (david@fabre.com.au). Everyone else who has contacted me and provided their deposits - thanks for assisting me to make this happen - I have given your details to Fabre and you can expect to hear from them soon re: lead times, receipts for deposits etc.

Ben D

Ben,
at what power level or 'application' are the Spool rods good for exactly?
Are they better than standard rods at all?
I ask this as several people are running around 250-300rwkw's with standard rods.
Surely the Spool rods arent that bad for some moderate power increase?
Have you seen any broken spool rods?
Whats wrong with the bushes that they need to be replaced?
I havent seen anything like this yet, which is why im interested.
Their website seems pretty convincing.
I'm not having a go, just wondering



STOP BEEN A TIGHT ARSE AND BYE YOURSELF A GOOD ROD I HAVE SEEN THE LITTLE ENDS BRAKE ON THESE SPOOL THINGS

Not everyone runs <500kw and has sponsorship to pay for $1240 worth of connecting rods when standard ones are fine for the average bloke on the street. <br> You can pickup whole motors for less than that thesedays.
Glad youve got wads of cash to throw around...

Hmm, I wish I had sponsors money to spend too. While our dragster gets support from Link for ECUs and Kelford Camshafts has provided support for cams, and Fantasy performance kindly supplied the exhaust manifold, the rest comes out of our own pockets, which I assure you are not that deep. Having said that, buying good parts comes with the territory for what we are doing, and we have never said these rods are for everyone. No one is forcing anyone to buy them, but quite a few have wisely taken up the offer as its kind of an investment - they will last for a long time (ie. several rebuilds), without needing to change rod bolts, resize etc, so in fact a quality set of rods is very cost effective in the long run and the sort of insurance its nice to have in highly tuned engines.

Sounds like someones mum didn't give him his pocket money today.sorry buddy mabey we can through the hat around.I bought a set,I think they are a good investment,my car only has 340hp if you want to go fast get rid of reciprocating weight.And a good rod is piece of mind.Thats my two cents Thanks Ben for letting us share in the buy.