8ba rod differences

jetmek

Senior Member
So if the pics load here is a new one on me. Set of FMco rods from a 8ba have the oil squirt holes in a different location so the holes in bearings dont line up? Rod next to it is from another set for comparison. Anyone else seen this? Prob not worth the effort to drill new holes. Whatta yall think?
 

Attachments

  • 33741CDF-6925-4DCB-AEB6-1DB07D3A340C.jpeg
    33741CDF-6925-4DCB-AEB6-1DB07D3A340C.jpeg
    62.4 KB · Views: 102
  • 55D153C8-B2C0-4226-A17D-29BB39B6274E.jpeg
    55D153C8-B2C0-4226-A17D-29BB39B6274E.jpeg
    135.4 KB · Views: 107
For anything but an all-out Bonneville car, I can't believe any difference would be made by moving, enlarging or anything done to those holes.
 
Changing the bearing shell hole size will affect oil pressure. Their placement in the engine is listed in the overhaul manuals for directional purposes. They are directed one way on the right bank and another on the left bank. FoMo Co started using them in late 49 or early 1950 since the part number changed to the OBA prefix which obsoleted the 8BA prefix. Canadian engines may have had some difference or there was a change somewhere from early to late production. The bore hole may not have to align in the rod. It could be adjusted for an edge feed by carefully filing the port on an angle to allow it to feed through the shell hole. All the ones I have look like the top photograph in the OPs #1 post. I haven't seen one like the bottom photo yet.
 
I kind of like the looks of the lower rod - just appears "beefier" to me - and a really nice forging.

Would be interesting to weigh the two on a gram scale - just for shits and giggles to see if they have different weights, or maybe "looks are deceiving". LOL
 
Well i have never run across a set like these. Im not going to try altering them. They clearly require a different bearing tho
 
I wish had a picture of them but back in high school I was given a 8ba which I disassembled to ring and bearing. Upon cleaning the rods my shop teacher and I noticed the squirt holes had never been drilled . So after seeing your rods I think ford changed things around a quite bit concerning the big end of the rods between 49 and 53. Tim
 
Back
Top