Can you measure the CA16 rod and jornal sizes ?
I was thinking CA16 pistons with the 7.2mm dish would be OK
If they can be had in the right oversize
But I haven't actually seen the CA16 rod

As I say the CA18 spool rods are 560grams with the rod bolts installed
I don't think 9mm vs's 8mm would actually be much difference in strength on the rods
I've never seen an ARP bolt let go on an A series... or a standard one for that matter.
I never checked the bolt diameter on the Spools

I'm pretty sure the CA16 rods are the same as the A14/15 rods size wise, with the exception of the gudgeon pin bore. (20mm) They look just like the ca18de rods, exect they are a whisker thinner in the beam. Untill I weighed them, I thought they were the same.

Quote:

I have seen the standard bolts fail, this is the result-



This happened to my suck through turbo set up years ago, left side bolt snapped and was found in the sump in half, scratched the sh!t out of the bore, both bearings were mangled. Did i do a good job or what?????

Never seen it before or since.

Id say they wouldnt do that if the bolt was stronger.

Have seen many such failures at the track - even fully prepared race BMW M3 engines. Over-revving doesn't help.

If I were to retain the standard rods (last resort if I don't get steel ones in time), I'd use ARPs as a minimum to safeguard the rest of the engine.

Are A14 and A15 rods identical? Only difference are the piston height and crank stroke?

The time old problem of Weight V Cost V Strength.

I have opted for standard A14 rods, polished, shot peened and balanced with ARP bolts and full floater bushes for new piston.

Although i haven’t seen the cost yet.

In 6 years of Rallying and using every bit of the 8000rpm rev limit I have not seen any rod problems. (Yet)
But for every rebuild you must always use NEW bolts (never reuse rod bolts)

Hey we have a company here in New Zealand who makes H Beam rods for the A14/15 they retail NZ$750.00 I think they call themselves Ross/Denco engineering!! I run them in my A14 with ARP bolts. havent had a problem since!

yeah, thats Denco engineering in Tuam st. fella named Bob Denson runs it. They do forgies too, use ross blanks.
I'd love to know what spool rods weigh

Save your money just re-read what rally1200 has done. After all Honda and Daihatsu racers run skinnier rods in 9000+ rpm engines both in boost and NA forms with no issues thanks to better bolts.

Australian 3 time rally champion under 2ltr class Daihatsu charade detomaso HD engine stock bottom end. 9000+ rpm

Honda d16 turbo 300+hp with stock rods.

I'll have some more info soon..