when you have 3 rods snap and then lift the head of the block then thats a fail. Happened to of before. Man that was a bang and a half. Also had the rod in though the block before aswell but that wasnt a datsun motor

now that is impressive....

It had a small hydro last year from a nasty leaking weber, i recon that tweeked it, and many KM of abuse and many many race days have let it deflect more and more, Lucky it didnt break and hurt the head,

I have to go to an A14 for 2011 rules, so its not to much loss A14 has much better rod angle so at least it will be able to rev a bit higher.

What pistons were you running, because whatver they were, it's a bloody impressive feat that they themselves didn't break whilst being able to do that to the rod. The hyd lock - I would have had to have thought it was coolant related not fuel (or am I misreading?) I'd definitely pressure test the head and visually inspect for cracks as well around the valve seats, probably inbetween in and ex valve area in particular.

Quote:

CA16de rods are beefier than A series rods, but lighter than CA18de/det rods. (Thinner cross section) Although untill I weighed them, I never would have picked it.

do they also run a 20mm small end?

Wow even a ca16de rod is better? Id rather the ca18det or de rods if they are that little
beefier that way a better base for prepping them.

yeah they run a 20mm small end. They're floating though.
I don't know that you'd need the extra strength that the twin cam CA18's offer D. Like I say, till I weighed them, I didn't even spot that they were different. Given that extra weight will take more energy to speed up, you dont really want too much extra weight if you can get away with it.

I weighed CA18DE, and DET rods, and they are the same part.

It appears I dont have the weight for the CA18de/det in my book, but I found the following weights,
A15 rod with cap and rod bolts; 516.6 grams.
CA16DE rod with cap, rod bolts and small end bush; 651 grams

I must have forgotten to write down the CA18 rod weight, but I'll do that if I remember this week some times.

For the amount of punishment this motor took at over 135hp for nearly 4 years and huge KM (made 135hp on the bent rod) I dont see it as a part problem, especial when the motor hydro'd months ago on a leaking weber which i am sure started the bend due to the carbon ring on that cyl..

Either way, im going to the A14 block and crank for 2011 rules, with a longer rod and shorter stroke = better in my opinion, maybe not for street and bottom end torque but at 8000rpm having less rod angle = win

Holy crap. Thats one bent rod! I'm proud of the little A-series engines! Certainly one of the most durable engines that I've ever seen.