200 Connecting Rods ?

[DannyG]

My engine is at the machinist and he measured the piston/deck height which ranges from .029 and everywhere in between up to .040.
He recommends that I try to find a virgin set of connecting rods to try to make the deck height the same for all cylinders.
My engine was rebuilt a few times previously and must have a mix of reconditioned rods...
Does anyone have any sources for a good set of rods to go into a 1966 200 ?
Thanks,
DannyG

 

[chad]

Hi Again Dan,

I'm not clear - R U saying the block has been milled enuff that a currently unflat surface at the block/head interface can't recieve a mill cut to true it up (been done too many times already), that U seek rods of differing lengths as a work-around strategy for poor surface & to proceed w/a rebuild that way?

Thanks ~

 

[DannyG]

HI Chad,
My machinist believes the block hasn't been decked ever. He thinks ( hasn't stripped the bottom end yet) that it's the rods causing the irregular piston top to deck height differences .
I scored a set of rebuilt rods on ebay this morning , hopefully they measure out the same/ok....

DannyG

 

[rocklord]

Hi Again Dan,

I'm not clear - R U saying the block has been milled enuff that a currently unflat surface at the block/head interface can't recieve a mill cut to true it up (been done too many times already), that U seek rods of differing lengths as a work-around strategy for poor surface & to proceed w/a rebuild that way?

Thanks ~

When you resize the big end of the connecting rod, the distance measured centerline-to-centerline is decreased from the stock length.
DannyG could have a couple rods that were never resized, or resized several times; this could cause the variance between rods.
These different lengths in the same engine make minute variances in the CR between cylinders.

A good machinist should make sure the rods are the same length.

 

[chad]

"...set of connecting rods to try to make the deck height the same for all cylinders…"
thanks "rocky", I may understand now… at least certainly BETTER after ur help.

BTW: I lived in 3 places 4 about a decade in "W-by-God".
2 were kinda close 2 U:
St Marys (worked @ the old Colin Anderson - pre Dept of Corrections)
&
Charleston.
I have wonderful memories ("...can't take the…") and miss it sorely.
Those sentiments come up every time I see ur posts.
Kingwood is the 3rd spot (but the job was Preston Co.-wide so the whole NE has a soft spot in my heart as well).
I guess ALL the State & it's People do for me…

Long ago, far away for this swamp geezer. Not gone or forgotten.

 

[DannyG]

Turns out my crankshaft was shot too. Had some welding work on the back of it and some cracks too. Not sure if the cracks came first or the welding...
No cranks locally but ebay saves the day again, I found a nice standard/standard one and it's hopefully aok...
DannyG