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The only non-custom aftermarket rod that fits the Ford 300 is the Big Block Chevy small journal. Oliver has four different lengths that will work with the 300.
Oliver is also one of the best steel rods.
The BBC rod has the same .990" big end width as the 300 but the crank journal needs to be turned down from 2.123" to 2.100" to fit the rod.
The piston pin is .990" so the piston will need to be custom to fit the pin.
The rods are longer than stock and depending on which length you choose it will reduce the height of the piston making it much lighter than stock
I used a 6.8" long 240 rod and was able to reduce the piston and pin weight from the stock 819 grams down to 575 grams.
Will you be using gasoline, ethanol or methanol as a fuel?
I use custom built Oliver rods with the Chevy journal size. I used to use aluminum but I got tired of changing rods in an otherwise good engine. I'm lazy. The steel rods make just as much power as aluminum, for one reason that you can run a tighter quench height.
Oliver will not make six custom rods. You will have to order eight.
I use custom built Oliver rods with the Chevy journal size. I used to use aluminum but I got tired of changing rods in an otherwise good engine. I'm lazy. The steel rods make just as much power as aluminum, for one reason that you can run a tighter quench height.
Oliver will not make six custom rods. You will have to order eight.
I called Oliver Rods and they can supply six singles on their standard part number rods depending on availability.
I explained the application and they said the standard part number small journal big block rod will handle the power no problem.
Make SURE they have all the correct dimensional characteristics for your application. In my case the first set of rods arrived with Chevy big end widths. Wrong. Expensive mistake.
Make SURE they have all the correct dimensional characteristics for your application. In my case the first set of rods arrived with Chevy big end widths. Wrong. Expensive mistake.
Thanks for the heads up.
The Chevy Big Block big end width is .990" which is real close to the 300 big end width.
The 300 rods I have here are measuring .992" at both the big end and the small end.
The early "No hole" 240 rod has a .020" offset beam but the big and small ends are in line.
The later spit hole rod beams are centered.
I don't know what Olivers BBC beam offset is but not sure if it matters since the small end width is 1.125" versus .992" for the 300.
Looking for some guidance here.
I know that the BBC rod big end only has one side chamfered so the other side will need to be chamfered also.
Since a custom piston needs to be used with this build it can be made with the BBC .990" pin.
Are there any other considerations that is missing?
What BE width did Oliver send you the first time?
I'm working on another 300 turbo build and need to get this right.
You had better measure the width of your rod journal on the crank. I am sure it is well above 1 inch. I've been through this before with Oliver. Of course, you did say you had a billet crank made and possibly they made the journal width the same as a Chevy.
Also to my knowledge there was no (intentional) offset to the beam. The .020" you are seeing is probably manufacturing tolerance error.
But those kind of #'s are in the custom built rod arena. Not a off the shelf part.
