haha hopefully there isn't a problem with doing it twice then

By the time I got back to the shop mine were already installed. I didn't really think to look at them though, was kind of caught up in the top end of the engine. I have pics of the bottom end of the engine with the rods installed though, maybe one fo them has enough of the rod to see the difference. I have a few pics, none too great, of the stock rods also. Anyone know a visual que I should be looking for?

The thing that catches me is that shot peening involves somewhat a form of sandblasting, I can't imagine the factory markings surviving such a thing without being obviously skewed.

they don't use sand, but it'* similar. they use small (very smallish) steel and ceramic beads. it can actually leave a quite finished surface, despite what it may sound like it'll do.

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we use it to strengthen our gears as well, if that'* any indication of what sort of surface finish you can maintain while doing it - they're peened *after* they're machined and heat treated...

Right, 'somewhat a form' I would expect to see very small dimples on it though because of the randomness of the beads. Looking at the closeup I have of a stock rod, its smooth. Also, do you agree that the markings would be affected quite a bit? Looking at the pictures the * is clear with rather sharp edges. Not something I'd expect from a shot-peened rod.

I wouldn't discount it at all. don't know if it has been or not, but I wouldn't discount it. you'd expect somewhat random dimpling, but at least on the gears we run (and the output shaft for that matter), they're mostly so small you'd never notice it if you hadn't been told. on that note, i didn't know that any of our gears were peened until i asked about our peening process today.

so, to sum it up again (as to avoid confusion ), I have no idea if this rod has been shot-peened, but i don't see anything in the pics that would discount that...

We do the same type of treatment on stuff with lasers here at work. In some cases, so microscopic that you can't see it with the naked eye. Depending on the type of treatment, we can cause metals and other substrates to either repel or attract different liquids depending on amount of treatment and viscosity of the fluid.

Imagine the possibilities.

good call



I just checked out some of our shot peened gears, and

you would be realllly hard pressed to notice it unless you were looking for it! it almost looked like someone had taken a dull x-acto knife and randomly lightly pushed against the metal (which has already been heat treated!). veryyy faint marks, very hard to see. of course, you can change the strength of the shot, and the shot material, so different applications will vary...

hmm...I'm guessing they use a 'heavier' setup with rods. Rod and Custom Magazine said: "After being shot-peened, the rods will look smoother, with a dull gray finish." its hard to find much info on what they look like after haha...they did have a picture though:

Well maybe they're shot peened and then the sides are CNC'd flat like that?

My understanding (I read this somewhere, and can't find my source now....might be bookmarked at work) is that the rods got 'dimpled' when the valvetrain went roller in 1993. From the factory.

Hrm...well my stock rods seemed to have the exact same texture as the ones posted. The only thing I found on a description was what I posted about being smoother and grey.