PISTON SPEED/ROD LENGHTH

[Lazy JW]

The magic in the rod ratio becomes apparent at higher RPMs...

Yup. Gene Berg did use longer rods in his all-out race engines. But he cautioned that you absolutely MUST have adequate headwork/porting/cam/carburetion to support the flow necessary to take advantage of those longer rods, otherwise you would end up making LESS power after spending all that extra money. I suspect that there are relatively few individuals who know how to make a stock Ford six head casting flow to the point where they truly need longer rods.
Joe

 

[SuperMag]

...I can't recall ever seeing a tractor engine with short rods.... Reckon the designers were more interested in longevity than any negligible torque/horsepower numbers.

That, and economy. Longer rods = greater BMEP, which translates directly into greater fuel economy. And in farm economics, it's all about the gallons per hour...