Just wondering if anyone has used carillo rods in a GT40? The H-beam carillos are held in very high regard by the porsche and f-car crowd. I see carillos are available in dimensions to fit a SBF and I like the idea of using these rods in a build. Anyone have any experience with them in a SBF?
Carillo rods any good for a GT40?
- Thread starter Cliffbeer2
- Start date
Just my opinion but unless you're going for a very long stroke crankshaft in a 302 block where rod angularity approaches the extreme and going to run the engine at very high rpm, the Carillo rods may be overkill. For a normal engine, or when using a small addition to the stroke, there are several manufacturers whose products will do the job quite well. A.J.
Have not used them in a LONG time but they used to be considered very good for the Ford 302/351.
Back in the day, no self respecting F5000 runner would be without Carillos. I used both Crower 'I' beam and Carillo 'H' beam in my race SBCs and never lost a rod or ran a bearing in 5 years of heavy use (apart from changing bolts regularly). I agree that Carillo may be overkill for a milder application, but personally I always get the very best I can afford whatever I'm buying.
The Crowers needed a bit of "shaving" to get them in perfect balance but the Carillos were spot on out of the box.
The Crowers needed a bit of "shaving" to get them in perfect balance but the Carillos were spot on out of the box.
Thank you gents, that's very helpful information.
Thanks Keith, was hoping I might hear someone with experience with these rod say exactly that. Good to know they are a good application here (US V8's) with engines built to a high standard, even if it may be a bit of overkill for a street engine with only occasional track time. I'm in the process of rounding up the parts for a 331 which I would like to be able to take up to 7,000+ rpm reliably and with good durability so your comments are very helpful. I've used them before in a couple Alfa Romeo race motors I built and I had good experience with them like you.
Now I'm just trying to figure out if I need to spring for brand new Carillo's (about $3,500 for a set of 8) or if used ex-Nascar ones (about $1,000) will do.......hhhmmmm....
Thanks Keith, was hoping I might hear someone with experience with these rod say exactly that. Good to know they are a good application here (US V8's) with engines built to a high standard, even if it may be a bit of overkill for a street engine with only occasional track time. I'm in the process of rounding up the parts for a 331 which I would like to be able to take up to 7,000+ rpm reliably and with good durability so your comments are very helpful. I've used them before in a couple Alfa Romeo race motors I built and I had good experience with them like you.
Now I'm just trying to figure out if I need to spring for brand new Carillo's (about $3,500 for a set of 8) or if used ex-Nascar ones (about $1,000) will do.......hhhmmmm....
$3500.00!! overkill... a set of 5.4" scat h-beams will only cost you about 25% of that with off the shelf forged pistons for about the same $... leaving you to pick the heads of choice with the balance...... are Scats any good? must be OK, they have been in the TVR I used to prep for just on ten years now & it runs up to 7600 RPM.
Still if writing a $3500.00 check doesnt bother you..
Still if writing a $3500.00 check doesnt bother you..
Jim Rosenthal
Supporter
Why are Carillos so expensive? Is it the material, the machining, or the design?
Thanks guys. Yup, the scat's would probably be just as good and a helluva lot cheaper. Maybe I'm just being stupid. It's kind of a "Rolex" thing...a Citizen or a Phillip Stein or a Bulova is nice, but a Rolex is a bit special. Might be better, might not be....but a Rolex just doesn't go wrong.
The $3,500 price I was quoted was for rods spec'd for a 331 with standard journal sizes. Sounds like I need to do some shopping around...
Anyone have any experience with ex- Nascar carillo's? Are they beat up and bent and out of balance (typically)?
Thanks in advance.
ps. this must be the slowest engine build in history. I started off trying to make this engine a flat crank V8 but my builder folded shop after a couple progress payments. Ultimately, I'm aiming for using an old (symmetrical) Indy car....building a bargain basement open wheeler with a lot of hp. Kind of like a cheap F5000 car.
The $3,500 price I was quoted was for rods spec'd for a 331 with standard journal sizes. Sounds like I need to do some shopping around...
Anyone have any experience with ex- Nascar carillo's? Are they beat up and bent and out of balance (typically)?
Thanks in advance.
ps. this must be the slowest engine build in history. I started off trying to make this engine a flat crank V8 but my builder folded shop after a couple progress payments. Ultimately, I'm aiming for using an old (symmetrical) Indy car....building a bargain basement open wheeler with a lot of hp. Kind of like a cheap F5000 car.
Last edited:
I have not kept up with Nascar stuff in recent times, do they even use the 8.200" windsor block anymore for some of the 2nd tier class's, most of the ex nascar rods I see for sale are ~6.300" long, too long for the 289/302 blocks, 5.625" is as long as you can get in a 331/8.200" block & that requires a trick piston.
"The $3,500 price I was quoted was for rods spec'd for a 331 with standard journal sizes. Sounds like I need to do some shopping around...
Anyone have any experience with ex- Nascar carillo's? Are they beat up and bent and out of balance (typically)?"
Cliff, for $2500 you can have new Man of War Block, used NASCAR Bryant Crank, and a set of used NASCAR Carrillo rods!
I happen to have a set of ex NASCAR Pankl and Carrillo Rods for a 9.5 Block (for sale, by the way). And I am amazed how much lighter the Pankl rods are. Carrillo was the Gold standard, but the Pankl Rods have surpassed them.
Darnel
Anyone have any experience with ex- Nascar carillo's? Are they beat up and bent and out of balance (typically)?"
Cliff, for $2500 you can have new Man of War Block, used NASCAR Bryant Crank, and a set of used NASCAR Carrillo rods!
I happen to have a set of ex NASCAR Pankl and Carrillo Rods for a 9.5 Block (for sale, by the way). And I am amazed how much lighter the Pankl rods are. Carrillo was the Gold standard, but the Pankl Rods have surpassed them.
Darnel
Last edited:
couple years ago i bought some 6.3 carrillo's, 2" big end with edm oiling hole for $200. you can get some deals, i would probably plan on replacing the bolts. i kind of went the route you are trying to go, wish in the end i would have just bought a rotating assy through a good machine shop, have them blue print the thing, have them blue print a block, get all the bearings etc. through them, then you have one shop, hopefully close by, who is going to be your go to guy.
Hi Jim,
Figured I'd give you the best reply I can.
Rods have been Carillo's bread and butter since 1963. They have pretty much dedicated all of their resources to rods and nothing else, until about 2008 when CP bought Carillo (via Pankl), which brought CP pistons into the fold. Below is some info from independent sites (which may have been pulled from old Carillo sites).
Carrillo has provided custom and prototype connecting rods to virtually every major automotive and motorcycle venue, most notably to the high performance and speed equipment industry. Whether it is a development engine or a modified existing engine, when nothing but the finest, most accurate, proven part is needed, Carrillo has earned the reputation of simply being the best.
Carrillo Industries has dedicated its resources to one effort, connecting rods and connecting rods only. This dedication has created one of the most impressive success records of any automotive aftermarket parts supplier. Carrillo has supplied components to the winners of virtually all venues of Motorsports throughout the world.
Every Carrillo rod is created by craftsman with years of experience, and Carrillo engineers continually refine their connecting rod designs to obtain that elusive goal – perfection in performance. Before leaving their facility, a Carrillo rod is subjected to a variety of quality checks, to ensure that dimensions meet stringent tolerance requirements. they employ a variety of equipment, including a CMM, Air and Height-Gages, a 2D measuring system to name just a few.
Carillo uses the best steel they can find, and varies the forging techniques to assure optimum grain flow. The rods are produced in small batches to assure quality throughout the process.
Ian
Figured I'd give you the best reply I can.
Rods have been Carillo's bread and butter since 1963. They have pretty much dedicated all of their resources to rods and nothing else, until about 2008 when CP bought Carillo (via Pankl), which brought CP pistons into the fold. Below is some info from independent sites (which may have been pulled from old Carillo sites).
Carrillo has provided custom and prototype connecting rods to virtually every major automotive and motorcycle venue, most notably to the high performance and speed equipment industry. Whether it is a development engine or a modified existing engine, when nothing but the finest, most accurate, proven part is needed, Carrillo has earned the reputation of simply being the best.
Carrillo Industries has dedicated its resources to one effort, connecting rods and connecting rods only. This dedication has created one of the most impressive success records of any automotive aftermarket parts supplier. Carrillo has supplied components to the winners of virtually all venues of Motorsports throughout the world.
Every Carrillo rod is created by craftsman with years of experience, and Carrillo engineers continually refine their connecting rod designs to obtain that elusive goal – perfection in performance. Before leaving their facility, a Carrillo rod is subjected to a variety of quality checks, to ensure that dimensions meet stringent tolerance requirements. they employ a variety of equipment, including a CMM, Air and Height-Gages, a 2D measuring system to name just a few.
Carillo uses the best steel they can find, and varies the forging techniques to assure optimum grain flow. The rods are produced in small batches to assure quality throughout the process.
Ian
$3500.00!! overkill... a set of 5.4" scat h-beams will only cost you about 25% of that with off the shelf forged pistons for about the same $... leaving you to pick the heads of choice with the balance...... are Scats any good? must be OK, they have been in the TVR I used to prep for just on ten years now & it runs up to 7600 RPM.
Still if writing a $3500.00 check doesnt bother you..
Yeah, I tried to suggest this diplomatically, but........
Anything up to 7000 rpm should be OK with any of the proprietary manufacturers that have good reputations, Scat rods right in there with the best of these.
As for the Nascar rods, they're removed because history shows they can't be trusted. Yes, I know many people have used them, but why aren't the teams still using them? Is your engine worth any less to you than theirs is to them? If you must have them, get them magnifluxed, look for knicks on the beam sides and around the base above the bolts as well as paying particular attention to the area under the wrist pin.
I'd get the Scat's.
A.J.
Similar threads
