Posted by Matt Wilson [162.158.187.156] on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 20:21:59 :
In Reply to: rod cap washers posted by Karl [108.162.216.53] on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 11:10:20 :
I had the lock washer recesses machined off by a machine shop, so I could go without the washers. I was a little leery of the washers cracking in service and allowing the joint to come loose. I've read about people finding these washers cracked, although the joints did not come loose. Nonetheless, I didn't want to take that chance.
Nearly every engine made by every manufacturer in the last 60+ years has used nuts on the connecting rods with no washers. The machinists I've spoken to have all said lock washers and Loctite or lock nuts are not needed on connecting rods. I'm told that even the last several years of production of our flatheads did not use washers. I know the 251 I took apart, which came from an early 60's Power Wagon, did not have washers, and no recesses for them.
I spoke with George Asche, who is a long-time Chrysler/Dodge flathead enthusiast. He has rebuilt hundreds of these engines in his nearly 90 years of living, and raced them too. He told me he uses a little engine oil on the threads and torques the nuts to 45 ft-lbs. He says that if the rods came with washers, he reassembles them with washers, and if they didn't, he doesn't. He says he's never found one cracked, but if they were to crack, the recesses will keep the washers in place to prevent the joint from loosening.