409 stock rod strength

[Don Jacks]

Well, the rods weren't as old when I started building W's. I didn't have as much money back then either. In all the years I've not seen a stock 409 rod break. Spun bearings, dropped valves, broken piston skirts but no broken rods. Has anyone here had a broken rod?

I think Shan can testify about this after his disaster at BG last year.

 

[La Hot Rods]

Don if you watch Shan's run in the video we got, something when wrong on that run, you can see and hear it on the launch.
Makes me wonder if he had a ignition intermittent problem that could have maybe caused a hydro lock.

Ray I was about to ask the same question, most of the pictures I have seen of carnage has been with a valve stuck in the top of the piston generally still hooked to a good rod.

 

[Fathead Racing]

I think Shan can testify about this after his disaster at BG last year.

More than likely a spun bearing. That could break a rod but then it was the spun bearing that caused the rod (if it broke) to break. Could have been a wrist pin also. All I'm saying is I haven't seen a broken rod yet.

 

[Ishiftem]

More than likely a spun bearing. That could break a rod but then it was the spun bearing that caused the rod (if it broke) to break. Could have been a wrist pin also. All I'm saying is I haven't seen a broken rod yet.

You weren’t trying hard enough!

 

[Fathead Racing]

You weren’t trying hard enough!

Yeah, I'm running Scat rods now. If I try hard enough I could probably break one. How many stock 409 rods have you seen break Dan?

 

[Ishiftem]

I think the stock rod with good bolts for a stock 409/425 build or a little hotter would be just fine. A set of cheap aftermarket rods should be resized anyway since they are never round once you torque them a couple times.

 

[Ishiftem]

Yeah, I'm running Scat rods now. If I try hard enough I could probably break one. How many stock 409 rods have you seen Dan?

I have never talked to anyone who broke the stock rod either. I’m a hermit though so I don’t talk to many people.

 

[agentorange]

I broke a 348 rod in the early 60's in a 280 hp in a 58 Chev. I also broke a rod in a 425 horse in a 63 Super Sport. Probably the rear gear of a 4.56 and after I broke that rear end I put in a 4.88. Both cars were daily drivers and I drove the snot out of both cars. So I have first hand knowledge that they can break.

 

[Fathead Racing]

I have never talked to anyone who broke the stock rod either. I’m a hermit though so I don’t talk to many people.

You and I would get along just fine.

 

[Skip FIx]

If you look at even a stock 3/8 bolt BBC rod you can see they beefed them up.

By the time you buy good new bolts, then resize the big end(mandatory with new bolts) you do end up getting close to the price of newer stronger rods.

 

[tenxal]

As scarce as 409 blocks are today, I can't imagine risking one. The abundance of affordable, quality rods is one of the reasons that today is the true Golden Age of hot rodding.