The story behind Crower's 6.7 Rods

[SPE]

This was found yesterday when examining a customer's engine for the issues behind the catastrophic failure.

The photo below is 2 of the 6 oil squirters that had snapped off & were found in the customer's oil pan.

Below is there the oil squirter was rubbing. You can see the difference between the Crower rod & the Carrillo rod.

You can see here that the rod is crushing the squirter.

We as well as the customer have called Crower & they claim it is the engine builder's responsibility to clearance the rods. While we did not build this engine originally we believe Crower is at fault as it is difficult for the engine builder to check clearance between the rod & squirter because of it's location. This should have been when the rods were designed. It is not a common clearance to check for an engine builder. It is not common practice for SPE to call a company out, but since they won't own up to it, we want to make it know the issues their rods have cause resulting in needing a long block because of the damages.

*Mainly we want to make customers aware that these rods need clearanced since they are not advertised that way nor are they telling customers until after they have an issue.

 

[78f100]

That sucks, I couldnt make out what that was in the other thread pics. Thats crazy it did that to the cooling jets, I would also think that crower should own up to.

 

[Meniacal_Mark]

I saw this on fb, I'm sure this will reduce the number of potential customers for Crower...

 

[dzldoctor]

I'll make a note also that Carillo rods need to be clearanced in a 6.0 block. The rod just touches the bottom of the cylinder wall. There is no notes in the install of those either. Found it when assembling and had to tear back down to clearance. No catastrophic failure, but an issue that to me should be noted.

 

[Powerstroke Racer]

This was found yesterday when examining a customer's engine for the issues behind the catastrophic failure.

The photo below is 2 of the 6 oil squirters that had snapped off & were found in the customer's oil pan.

Below is there the oil squirter was rubbing. You can see the difference between the Crower rod & the Carrillo rod.

You can see here that the rod is crushing the squirter.

We as well as the customer have called Crower & they claim it is the engine builder's responsibility to clearance the rods. While we did not build this engine originally we believe Crower is at fault as it is difficult for the engine builder to check clearance between the rod & squirter because of it's location. This should have been when the rods were designed. It is not a common clearance to check for an engine builder. It is not common practice for SPE to call a company out, but since they won't own up to it, we want to make it know the issues their rods have cause resulting in needing a long block because of the damages.

*Mainly we want to make customers aware that these rods need clearanced since they are not advertised that way nor are they telling customers until after they have an issue.

The engine builder is ultimately responsible for checking the build period.
let's ASSUME for a minute that Crower is at fault of which they are not, why only 2 jets and not at least 4?

We modify them in 7.3's to clear the rods not Crower, someone somewhere had Crower build those rods, that person or company should have done some testing not Crower.

 

[Hotrodtractor]

When fitting custom parts into an engine it is the responsibility of the installer the ensure that everything clears - especially on such a new product. Now it would be nice if Crower takes this information and implements a design improvement in this particular product - but it is certainly not their fault.

There have been several products that require fitment such as this in many different areas of motorsports. No way would I buy the first of a product (such as brand new rods for a new engine design) and not check EVERYTHING.

 

[78f100]

I understand what you guys are saying, I didn't realize these were the first. I am no expert but would never have even thought to check for clearance there.

 

[lildevil02]

I would agree, it is on the builder to to check everything out.

 

[thuglike]

I gotta go with builder as well. He built it he is responsible to check everything out.

Taking the build on is taking resonsibility for it's proper install.

 

[thuglike]

This was found yesterday when examining a customer's engine for the issues behind the catastrophic failure.

The photo below is 2 of the 6 oil squirters that had snapped off & were found in the customer's oil pan.

Below is there the oil squirter was rubbing. You can see the difference between the Crower rod & the Carrillo rod.

You can see here that the rod is crushing the squirter.

We as well as the customer have called Crower & they claim it is the engine builder's responsibility to clearance the rods. While we did not build this engine originally we believe Crower is at fault as it is difficult for the engine builder to check clearance between the rod & squirter because of it's location. This should have been when the rods were designed. It is not a common clearance to check for an engine builder. It is not common practice for SPE to call a company out, but since they won't own up to it, we want to make it know the issues their rods have cause resulting in needing a long block because of the damages.

*Mainly we want to make customers aware that these rods need clearanced since they are not advertised that way nor are they telling customers until after they have an issue.

So......................If a job is difficult liability reverts to the manufacturer????

 

[02BigD]

In the world of custom, better check twice on everything.

 

[Dzchey21]

Im shocked you don't have a melted piston

 

[mike@haller's]

I gotta go with builder as well. He built it he is responsible to check everything out.

Taking the build on is taking resonsibility for it's proper install.

I gotta agree. If it was rubbing that hard you should of felt that when turning the motor over by hand immediately after installing the piston. I recently installed carrillo rods in a 6.4 and found a piece of casting needs machined to clear the rod properly. It sucks to tear back down and machine it, but its what you have to do with custom builds sometimes.

 

[Meniacal_Mark]

This goes with any builder with any type of engine for any use. I know guys who build really good race engines. I also know of guys who build pretty good engines but they forget stuff, they don't look at every little detail. And once those engines let go on the track for a few people, word gets around quick.

 

[Powerstroked162]

David, Alligator performance is the company who brought this to crower. I wouldn't let them check the air in my bike tires let alone trust them to do follow up r&d on engine parts. Still have to agree with everyone else that this falls on the shoulders of the builder. Then again, I was unaware that ford techs were even allowed to R&R engines anymore. I thought it was book procedure for a new short block anytime a part of the rotating assembly failed. Anyone know if that's true or not??

.

 

[Dzchey21]

I would imagine they dont do much engine work, but there is still non warranty stuff that might need to be done.

I'm also surprised that while rotating everything to install each piston that they never noticed something hitting the oilers, it had to have made noise, been hard to turn... or something i would think. Its not like the oiler changed position or the rod moved...

 

[Dieselcraft]

David, Alligator performance is the company who brought this to crower. I wouldn't let them check the air in my bike tires let alone trust them to do follow up r&d on engine parts. Still have to agree with everyone else that this falls on the shoulders of the builder. Then again, I was unaware that ford techs were even allowed to R&R engines anymore. I thought it was book procedure for a new short block anytime a part of the rotating assembly failed. Anyone know if that's true or not??

.

NOT TRUE
As FoMoCo goes replace all Wrrnty repairs most cost efficient PARTS wise!

There are alot of dealers that throw parts at everything that can't use a measuring device.

This falls on the engine builder
It dosent take much sense to understand that when you turn the new rotating assembly over that it is hard at spots. I hope that they learn from there mistakes

 

[Codydiesel]

Powerstroked162 Ford techs are allowed to r&r a engine they have told me to just put a rod in a 6.7 before as well as 6.4s

 

[Dzchey21]

NOT TRUE
As FoMoCo goes replace all Wrrnty repairs most cost efficient PARTS wise!

There are alot of dealers that throw parts at everything that can't use a measuring device.

This falls on the engine builder
It dosent take much sense to understand that when you turn the new rotating assembly over that it is hard at spots. I hope that they learn from there mistakes

that explination makes the most sense

 

[04stroker]

David, Alligator performance is the company who brought this to crower. I wouldn't let them check the air in my bike tires let alone trust them to do follow up r&d on engine parts. Still have to agree with everyone else that this falls on the shoulders of the builder. Then again, I was unaware that ford techs were even allowed to R&R engines anymore. I thought it was book procedure for a new short block anytime a part of the rotating assembly failed. Anyone know if that's true or not??

.

Ford techs do replace internal engine parts as long as that is the most cost efficient way. Personally under warranty when I worked for Ford I would much rather put a new assembled short block in than rebuild one. Simply because on warranty flat rate pay I could make out better swapping short blocks than rebuilding.