The weak link in a connecting rod has always been the bolt, and racers know that nobody builds a better bolt than ARP. However, it is critically important to monitor the stretch of each bolt and replace it when it has permanently elongated by .0005.
In some instances, you may want to go to an ARP rod bolt made from a better grade of material. This will provide you with improved reliability. However, please understand that when you want bolts made from exotic, super high strength materials, the cost will increase significantly. If you're on a budget, it's best to go with the most cost-effective solution. This is typically defined by the loads that are carried by the bolts in terms of piston/rod weight and the rotational speed of the engine. The most cost effective design is the one in which the bolt strength is just great enough to handle its anticipated load plus a safety margin for the occasional overloads. Using a material which has far more strength than required is not as cost effective but will definitely give you an extra margin of safety and longer service life.
Kit Instructions: We provide the stretch and torque values below as a general guide. Please contact the rod manufacturer using the chart below for the exact values for your bolt and rod combination. Rod Bolt stretch and torque values for aftermarket rods are determined by the rod manufacturer. If they provide any information online, we have linked directly to it with the Website link.
