"The Animal has the worst rod ratio of any engine used in racing. Long stroke with a tall piston and very short rod creates very violent stops and starts during revolutions. This is havoc on any rod, made of any material, with or without bearings."
Jody, you are absolutely correct and this is exactly why 2024 is the material of choice in the Animal.
And of course splash lubrication is a joke, we all know that.
Allow me to repeat and clarify: Mind you - I am not knocking a product. It just does not serve our particular application.
Animal engine, endurance racing.
Jody your words wound me, my research is limited indeed. Limited to never having five out of seven insert 7075 rod last more than one or two race weekends. The two survived because we removed them before use. On one particular WF rod I have recorded just over 8 hours at between 4,500 to 7,500 rpm. Two times during this endurance test the rod was removed, inspected and carefully measured and dye penetrant checked and new bolts were installed in reassembly. It was replaced only because I was uncomfortable pushing it further. I have no idea how much time is on my current motor, not so much I suspect. We have lost motors to Noil, low oil and crank breakages but no rod main bearing breakage.
Heres a question; What if it were made from Cale Yarboroughs pecker? I bet that would be sumptin!