what is connecting rod side clearance (454bbc)
 

my friend has a 454 bbc with an ohio crank and eagle h beam rods.what should he be getting for rod side clearance?thx for info in advance!!!russ

I use roughly .020 for steel rods and .060 for aluminum or there abouts,JMO

so .014 would be too tight then?

Not really if you have that I'd think it would be fine for steel rods,but just make sure you have that much in several spots in several locations on the crank,just don't check it in one spot.if its tighter you might have to get the rods machined

well its going to be street/strip motor. mostly strip. the rods are a eagle h-beam, and the crank is a cast ohio crank with stock stroke.

Just some thing for you to feed on>

Tight means oil is going to get hotter,with that said,we all know what heat does to metal.

Every thing has to work together,oil pump,clearances,etc.rods float on the crank in an oil film,if the oil can't pass between the rods effenciently enough it going to raise oil pressure and make heat so to speak.

Thats why I gave you guide lines,at least thats what I use for a rule of thumb,
maybe some one smarter than me can explain it better :P

I just don't want to blow up a 3rd one in 2 years

this is russ' friend. this is a big block.. its a 461 with domes. 10.5:1 comp motor

How can you tell someone thats knows everything :roll:

and i see he changed some things on my account already..BACKYARD MECHANIC????WTF