Do rods really need rebuilding when new ARP bolts are installed by press?
 

I am rebuilding a 1975 2.0L type 4 engine which was leaking oil and has about 90000 miles on original undamaged crankshaft. After taking off old rod bolts and pressing on the new ARP bolts I am in the process of reassembling the engine with new standard size rod bearings. I was wondering from some advice I was given by Jake Raby and Bleyseng to have the rods checked and resized by a competent machinist. My question is what can I do myself to check the rods before taking them in? Do I need anything more sofisticated than a micrometer or plastigauge to measure the reusability of these rods? I fail to see how torguing these rod bolts to spec (40ft-lbs) would distort the big ends to require resizing. Please educate me. thanks.

It's not necessarily the torqueing that distorts them. It's the use. 90K miles is quite a bit, and the openings in the big ends of the rods are likely very very slightly oval. A good shop can re-size them for you, which will ensure that the openings are perfectly round. This is pretty much a "default" in any bottom-end rebuild any more.

--DD

Thanks Dave,
I measured the rod to crank side clearance before dismantling and they were within the spec (.004-.016"). I found out that EBS quoted me $30 per rod to fully recondition them to spec. So I'll be sending them out next week

Great idea..While its in your hand just "DO IT"

My son's shop builds racing engines only and they always resize rods when they change bolts!