RPM i beam vs h beam which are you guys running?

**suntzu** · 12-07-2015 02:28 AM

Im fairly set on running RPM rods, I just wondered how many guys are running this brand and wether you went for the I beam or h beam?
I always thought I beam were stronger but RPM inform me that the I beam is rated to 550hp and the h beam 600hp. But they say they have customers running over that. I plan to exceed 600hp.
I was all ready to get the I beams but the numbers worry me a little.
What did you guys run and whats your specs? Ill get the small ends honed, but other than that any complaints? ARP bolts ok?
Thanks

**zillarob** · 12-07-2015 05:17 PM

I would think they are both strong enough.
Weight is what I think I would be looking at in regard to how much work the crankshaft will need.

**Schtug** · 12-07-2015 06:38 PM

I'd wager that most of the h-beam style rods out there on the market for these cars all come out of the same factory in china. The listed price from all the various re-sellers is probably just based on the level of finishing work done. Honing of the big and small ends, balancing to tighter tolerances, deburring, ect. I agree with zilla that you should be looking at weight so you know what you're going to be in for with the crankshaft.

**suntzu** · 12-08-2015 08:00 AM

Thanks for the input guys, I seem to remember mattdanger weighing the hbeams at 522ish grams. RPM advise that the I beams are 35-40 grams lighter. Putting them at approx 480 give or take. That puts them in the region of 50 grams lighter than stock per rod, and lighter than any other h beam type offering that I know the weight of save maybe the vast 3.0 ones going off mattdangers blog.
Obviously the I beam is lighter but is anone running these and would it be worth the gamble over the tried and tested h beam?

**Schtug** · 12-08-2015 09:33 PM

Which pistons are you planning to use? I'd go with the tried and proven h-beams, unless you're willing to play guinea pig on your own dime. That said I'm staring at a set of Pauters that will be going in my build and I can't really find anyone using them either. The most I find is "those are overkill just put a set of h-beams in and call it a day." Lol

**suntzu** · 12-09-2015 02:20 AM

Nah no Guinea Piggin' for me thanks. I originally bought a set of h beams off a guy in Bulgaria, but I sent them back because I just couldnt commit to using something of unkown quality and no track record. Im of the opinion aswell that a few factories in China churn these out. I did a comparison of pics of ie rods vs the ones I bought and they look realy similar, I understand thats not any way to gauge quality though. It seems common knowledge alot of brands including IE have the rods forged in China from Chinese metal, but some are finished in China and some in the states. Its this process coupled with the backup, the name, and probably much higher attention to quality control that blows up the price. Still, just couldnt run something that nobody can vouch for, but I know rpm are China made and have been installed in a few cars, and loads of other makes and models too, which gives me confidence. Maybe not alot of guys are running pauter but they are considered a known great quality brand so I would have no issues trusting those. Im going to run stock mahle pistons and new rings. Im planning running fairly big turbos this time round, my last engine was on pjk04 and a rod broke, realy dont need to loose sleep worrying about a repeat. Plus this engines now on 2.4 heads so theres a chance id loose those too if a rod broke again, just cant afford that.
I wasnt realy meant to be building the block, but something interesting came up and in order to take part it requires the build.

**suntzu** · 12-09-2015 02:21 AM

Nah no Guinea Piggin' for me thanks. I originally bought a set of h beams off a guy in Bulgaria, but I sent them back because I just couldnt commit to using something of unkown quality and no track record. Im of the opinion aswell that a few factories in China churn these out. I did a comparison of pics of ie rods vs the ones I bought and they look realy similar, I understand thats not any way to gauge quality though. It seems common knowledge alot of brands including IE have the rods forged in China from Chinese metal, but some are finished in China and some in the states. Its this process coupled with the backup, the name, and probably much higher attention to quality control that blows up the price. Still, just couldnt run something that nobody can vouch for, but I know rpm are China made and have been installed in a few cars, and loads of other makes and models too, which gives me confidence. Maybe not alot of guys are running pauter but they are considered a known great quality brand so I would have no issues trusting those. Im going to run stock mahle pistons and new rings. Im planning running fairly big turbos this time round, my last engine was on pjk04 and a rod broke, realy dont need to loose sleep worrying about a repeat. Plus this engines now on 2.4 heads so theres a chance id loose those too if a rod broke again, just cant afford that.
I wasnt realy meant to be building the block, but something interesting came up and in order to take part it requires the build.

**suntzu** · 12-09-2015 02:29 AM

Nah no Guinea Piggin' for me thanks. I originally bought a set of h beams off a guy in Bulgaria, but I sent them back because I just couldnt commit to using something of unkown quality and no track record. Im of the opinion aswell that a few factories in China churn these out. I did a comparison of pics of ie rods vs the ones I bought and they look realy similar, I understand thats not any way to gauge quality though. It seems common knowledge alot of brands including IE have the rods forged in China from Chinese metal, but some are finished in China and some in the states. Its this process coupled with the backup, the name, and probably much higher attention to quality control that blows up the price. Still, just couldnt run something that nobody can vouch for, but I know rpm are China made and have been installed in a few cars, and loads of other makes and models too, which gives me confidence. Maybe not alot of guys are running pauter but they are considered a known great quality brand so I would have no issues trusting those. Im going to run stock mahle pistons and new rings. Im planning running fairly big turbos this time round, my last engine was on pjk04 and a rod broke, realy dont need to loose sleep worrying about a repeat. Plus this engines now on 2.4 heads so theres a chance id loose those too if a rod broke again, just cant afford that.
I wasnt realy meant to be building the block, but something interesting came up and in order to take part it requires the build.