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Tell me the truth about L32 Connecting Rods



Alright, this is how my motor is set up.

Cylinders 1, 3, 5, the dots are facing forward. Cylinders 2, 4, 6, the dots face toward the flywheel. This also coincides with what you found on INTENSE's site about the bearing tangs facing the oil pan rail. The tangs they're referring to are the notches that the bearings have, that sit in the machined surface of the rods and keep them from moving side to side as you assemble them, not saying you don't know, but for further clarification in the future. Also, as have been said before, you'll have to watch as you assemble the pistons onto the rods as well. Numbers are the front of the piston, so you will have to make sure you put the correct orientation on the correct bank. As you assemble them, rotate the crank to make sure they don't bind up after torquing every two pistons. I do this just to make sure all clearances are checked, and double checked.
I've got 11,000 miles on my build, and it seems to be holding up ok with no issues.
I hope that helps. :th_thumbsup-wink:
 
Reptile said:
Alright, this is how my motor is set up.

Cylinders 1, 3, 5, the dots are facing forward. Cylinders 2, 4, 6, the dots face toward the flywheel. This also coincides with what you found on INTENSE's site about the bearing tangs facing the oil pan rail. The tangs they're referring to are the notches that the bearings have, that sit in the machined surface of the rods and keep them from moving side to side as you assemble them, not saying you don't know, but for further clarification in the future. Also, as have been said before, you'll have to watch as you assemble the pistons onto the rods as well. Numbers are the front of the piston, so you will have to make sure you put the correct orientation on the correct bank. As you assemble them, rotate the crank to make sure they don't bind up after torquing every two pistons. I do this just to make sure all clearances are checked, and double checked.
I've got 11,000 miles on my build, and it seems to be holding up ok with no issues.
I hope that helps. :th_thumbsup-wink:
Click to expand...



Oh excellent, i just got a reply from Intense racing and went a little something like this lol.

''
There should be no contact of the piston to the rod. The rods all have a dot on the beam above the bearing on one side. That dot needs to be facing the front (pulley side) of the engine on all 6 rods. Also make sure the pistons are all facing the right way, they each have the letter “F” stamped on them. The “F” should face the Front of the engine as well.''

That contradicts what they say on their own flippin website lol. They say bearing tangs to pan rail which means the way you've set up yours.

Im gonna go with you. I'll have to pull all the pistons apart and swing them around again lol. Mine is set up exactly opposite you yours ATM. I went with how most other rods go, big chamfer on big end to the closest main bearing. Now it will be the opposite which is weird but if your motor is running then im going for that lol.

With the pistons, they have an F on each one. So i have put the F to the front of each piston. Thats right isnt it? Theres numbers on the inside of the pistons next to the wrist pin but i thought you just followed the F.
 
You know, at the end of the day, I'm not really sure it matters. I mean, the rods are basically symmetrical. I know someone that put all dots facing forward (just talked to him on the phone) and the engine has 30k on it. I also don't know about the pistons, or if they differ between the states and Australia. I know that I've only paid attention to the numbers that are etched into the top of the pistons, I don't recall any F stamped into them off the top of my head. It seems that if you ask 10 different people how to assemble an engine, you're probably gonna get 4-5 different answers.

I can also quote GM's online service manual, that states "the connecting rod can be installed in either direction", but doesn't explain that the pistons are directional.
I'm by no means an expert, I flub up as much as the other "experts" but I will normally obsess over something until I know it's right. Like I know you're doing right now.
 
Stock pistons have numbers, aftermarket pistons have letters. The wrist pin is offset, and the pistons are directional. The numbers or "F's" on the pistons mean "front" so that side of the piston with the markings goes towards the front of the engine.

I installed my coated Diamond pistons backwards, (well 5 of the 6 were) because there was no spec. sheet informing me of this off set pin. The pistons knocked like a cold diesel engine. I tore it down, and flipped them around, and it shut them up. The "F" was stamped into the top of the piston, and then they were coated, and the coating settled in the "F" stamp. There was no obvious indentation on the tops of the pistons. Only if you looked really-really hard and angled the light just right on it, you could see it. I marked them with a Sharpie when it went back together the second time. A big fat black Fwent on that end. :th_peaceout:

When I built my engine, not many had done so at this point in time in our 3800 world. Not saying I was the first one to ever build their engine from scratch...

~F~
 


Reptile said:
You know, at the end of the day, I'm not really sure it matters. I mean, the rods are basically symmetrical. I know someone that put all dots facing forward (just talked to him on the phone) and the engine has 30k on it. I also don't know about the pistons, or if they differ between the states and Australia. I know that I've only paid attention to the numbers that are etched into the top of the pistons, I don't recall any F stamped into them off the top of my head. It seems that if you ask 10 different people how to assemble an engine, you're probably gonna get 4-5 different answers.

I can also quote GM's online service manual, that states "the connecting rod can be installed in either direction", but doesn't explain that the pistons are directional.
I'm by no means an expert, I flub up as much as the other "experts" but I will normally obsess over something until I know it's right. Like I know you're doing right now.
Click to expand...


So true lol.

The pistons arent stock they are forged and machined Diamond Racing 8.0:1. As you know they come from the States.
 
Ah, well that makes sense then. I've never messed with Diamonds....too much coin for me to drop on internals like that. I bargain shop on everything that I buy.
 
Reptile said:
Ah, well that makes sense then. I've never messed with Diamonds....too much coin for me to drop on internals like that. I bargain shop on everything that I buy.
Click to expand...

Hehe i know what you mean.

I probably should post up what im actually doing but the car isnt Pontiac lol.
 


Ok the other day i sent this e-mail to Intense racing.
''Hi,
Im building my L36 twinturbo.
Im running your L32 rods and your coated Diamond Racing pistons 8.0:1.
On assembly im finding the small ends of the rods are slightly out of centre on the wrist pin. This causes the small end of the rod to slightly rub one side of the radius inside the piston.
I don’t quite understand when you say bearing tang toward the pan rail as there are 2 sides to the pan rail.
I have installed them with the bigger chamfers of the big end towards the nearest main bearing. Is this right?''

I got this response.
''There should be no contact of the piston to the rod. The rods all have a dot on the beam above the bearing on one side. That dot needs to be facing the front (pulley side) of the engine on all 6 rods. Also make sure the pistons are all facing the right way, they each have the letter “F” stamped on them. The “F” should face the Front of the engine as well.''

I then sent this back.
''Thanks for the reply Chris.
Why does it say ‘’Bearing tangs toward pan rail’’ at the bottom of the page? INTENSE-Racing.com: L32 Connecting Rod
If that is the case then you will have half the dots facing forwards and half rearwards.
I just wish I could get a straight answer from someone lol. I can’t find a definite answer anywhere.''

I got this response today.
''I have no idea why the website says that, or what it really means. It said that before I worked here, I am going to see if John will change it. Anyway, the dots definitely point towards the front.''

I think im going to go dots face towards front lol.
 
Last edited:
Should work either way.

Mine are 1/2 and 1/2. Half of mine are facing one way on one side, the other way on the other side. I have made countless road trips far and near, and many passes down the 1/4 track at speeds in excess of 100 MPH. (who hasn't right)

Several oil chances since my build, and not a speck of copper in the oil. If it, the direction of the rods were wrong with my build, then I would be "panning for gold" by now with the copper from the bearings getting shredded to bits.

Like reptile said...its probably good either way you do it.

The L32 rod bolts shipped out today. I wish the box was bigger, I would have liked to hope in there and go with them. I'd like to go to Australia sometime.

~F~
 
Yes ive put the motor together today. Rods face forwards.

Should be good.

Hehe mate if you ever come down here let me know!



GR8racingfool said:
Should work either way.

Mine are 1/2 and 1/2. Half of mine are facing one way on one side, the other way on the other side. I have made countless road trips far and near, and many passes down the 1/4 track at speeds in excess of 100 MPH. (who hasn't right)

Several oil chances since my build, and not a speck of copper in the oil. If it, the direction of the rods were wrong with my build, then I would be "panning for gold" by now with the copper from the bearings getting shredded to bits.

Like reptile said...its probably good either way you do it.

The L32 rod bolts shipped out today. I wish the box was bigger, I would have liked to hope in there and go with them. I'd like to go to Australia sometime.

~F~
Click to expand...
 
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