Who can cut bottom guided rods to top guided?

[Bruce C]

I have been reading about top and bottom guided rods and it was mentioned that you can convert bottom guided to top guided. Who is able to cut a set of bottom guided rods to top guided? Who has had this done and were the results positive?

[mrcrsr]

brendan powers, power performance engineering 727 573 9288

[Fl Boy in ILL]

Yep Brendon, he did a cpl sets for us

Rick

[Eagle One]

You can't cut Bottom guide to top guide as the opening in the Bottom guide piston is already larger. You can cut the top guide to a bottom guide width or cut the top guide to accept the older top guide washers. We do both.. Cutting the rod itself is a much harder way to go... The older 625-5250 and 636-8118 rods have to have .100 cut off the sides to make them work with the 1/8 inch spacers.

[Bruce C]

I have really nice large rods and would like to make them bottom guided. I couidn't get through to power performance engineering, is there anyone else that is capable?

[Bruce C]

You can't cut Bottom guide to top guide as the opening in the Bottom guide piston is already larger. You can cut the top guide to a bottom guide width or cut the top guide to accept the older top guide washers. We do both.. Cutting the rod itself is a much harder way to go... The older 625-5250 and 636-8118 rods have to have .100 cut off the sides to make them work with the 1/8 inch spacers.


When you say you do both, does that mean you can cut the rods also? How much would you charge? I appreciate the input!

[Eagle One]

We do either rods or pistons, but it's a lot less expensice to cut aluminun than hardeened steel. Just call or e-mail direct for a quote.

[TEXAS20225]

yes you can cut the bottom guided 5250 hp rods to fit in top guieded pistons!!! its a matter of removeing .50 from each side you need no thick spacers as top guided piston have a narrower slot for the rod the standard washer is fine. there is no reason to cut bottom guided rods for bottom guided pistons only top guieded rods on bottom guided piston require a spacer, Jay smith cuts them for 150. a set i believe they work beautifully i have a some

[Bruce C]

I asked Jay Smith about cutting them but he didn't seem to want my business. I asked what he accepted for payment and he said pay pal and that I would have to add 3% since I am in Canada, I don't have pay pal and his website said that he takes money orders so I asked if I could send a money order as it would be easier and avoid the paypal fee and the reply was no and we don't want to machine your rods good luck. I wrote back that I can do pay pal if thats the only way (if I have to set up an account I will) but I didn't even get an email response back. I was quite surprised to be treated like that by someone that is held in such high regard here, according to you guys he is one of the best and I wanted the best doing my work.

My friend that has been around these motors for quite some time made a call and I think he has a guy that will grind them. I will confirm if we have a place to do it. Perhaps it is Mitch? How much does Mitch charge for a set of 6, just the piston pin end needs grinding.

[mrcrsr]

it is usually better to email brendan, as he travels alot. he takes .050 off each side of the rod, i'm thinking the bottom guide is .812 and the top guide is .712. if you machine the pistons it would work but is a bastard setup that off the shelf parts won't work with, if you have a piston failure now you have to machine another piston to fit, so you're better off doing the rods. brendan has done quite a few sets for me, here is a link to brendan's website, the guy builds some nice stuff. http://www.powerperformanceengineering.com/

[TEXAS20225]

Brendan Powers is my favorite person he is the absolute best at all phase's and a great guy i asked him what he charged to cut my rods i dont remember what it was but it was steep he sells the 5250 Top Guide with the Chattfield cut on them which is much better rod for 675.00 a set. I dont think JSRE has been posting since january this year . MRCRS is dead on the rod sizes i pulled a set of 5250 bottom guide rod out of a early 260 last year it had bottom guided piston but the rods were .712 on the top with the thick washers and 812 on the bottom go figgure :eek::cheers:

[Jay Smith]

Hey Bruce,
Guess I could have held up burying my Mother to deal with your rods .. Her death and my shop closing was posted...

AND the TRUTH of Cathy and your conversation was she's had issues with Canadian money orders and we didn't take them from Canada now isn't THAT the TOTAL TRUTH Bruce ?

Jay

[Eagle One]

Very Sorry for your loss Jay....