Turbo LT-1

[Tom Sharpe]

Gary Derian wrote:

> Reciprocating pistons place an alternating compression/tension load on the
> rods that is transmitted to the crank.  We all know that.  High rpm
> increases these loads by the square of the rpm.  Gas pressure loads tend to
> counteract the tensile loads on the piston every other revolution.  Too much
> rpm will cause part failure.  Too much boost at a low rpm can cause the rods
> to buckle.  You must balance boost and rpm to extract the maximum amount of
> power from a given engine.
>
> High boost/low rpm will buckle rods (not to mention bearing and crank
> loads).

Has anyone ever seen a rod buckle?  I have seen them bent in a half moon when
the rod bearing went. I have also seen rod and main bearings melted.

IMHO Pistons, pins, bearings, and block webing  ( and cast cranks)  usually go
first before the rod (in compression). Heavy detonation usually destroys
pistons, lite = bearings.  The rod usually breaks at high rpm when the throttle
snaps shut putting extra vacuum on top of the piston (pressure on the bottom)
when the piston goes over the top and the rod tries to yank it down. The large
end (rod bolts?) usually goes out of round then everything else goes wrong.
TWS