How-To

Did you know that some of the most stressed components in any race engine are the connecting rod bolts? When you’re spinning that high-revving small block to 8500 RPM, the engine is going through 140+ cycles per second. This means that those tiny fasteners are trying to keep the cap from slinging off the end of the connecting rod, at incredibly high speeds and pressures, and doing so repeatedly for hours. Now, with that in mind, wouldn’t it make sense to take the extra time to make sure those rod bolts are within spec and able to keep your rotating assembly in one piece? Today, let’s discuss what bolt stretch is, why you should prefer it to a traditional torque spec, and then guide you through the measuring process.