Titanium connecting rods for sbm 416

I think the info your reading has been misconstrued and exaggerated.

The use of titanium rods would be for the search of the ultimate ultra extreme top level HP excerise in a racing theater.
Otherwise, there isn't a real sane excuse for there use.

I don't know how you come to the theory/ knowledge of the steel connecting rod as a problem for piston longevity. The roll it plays is in is the length. Other than that, it just connects the slug to the crank. It's material composition is mostly irrelevant. As long as it meets the strength needs of the engine and is of the desired length.
While lighter is better, going to this extreme is IMO simply nuts.

As mentioned above earlier, some very powerful engines have been and are still being done with steel con/rods. There really isn't a problem with them at all.

The shorter slug due to the stroke added which causes a shorter piston overall is the concern. Some builders have noted and voiced concern over a slug getting to thin and the idea of it not being very stable in big stroke engines. We here had a fella not like that idea of a 4.250 stroke in the small block but it is being done. (How well it works out for longevity is an unknown to me.)

You can shorten the rod for the ability to make a taller piston if you wanted to.


On how an engine "Rev's" & how fast it will rev up as well as how long (time and rpm wise) it will rev, is, without a doubt a combination of factors. Your light weight approach on the rods has merit but when it comes to dollars and cents, as well as sense on a street driven engine, it boils down to a waste of money due to the extremely low return.
It's like buying a 5lbs. bag of sugar to sweeten your morning coffee and then throwing the rest of it out into the garbage when your done drinking the cup.

The other factors of a quick reving engine are in the camshaft used WITH the proper springs. The ability the engine has to breath and breath deeply.
Rear gear and tire size for quickly getting into high rpm area.

Before (fruitlessly) spending that amount of money on extreme racing con/rods, up the anti of the engine with superior heads. For the price in total, a set of Edelbrock Victor heads will bring you not just a lot but WAY further in HP goals, breath ability and top line rpm limits.

A lot of longevity is also in how an engine is treated and driven. Expensive parts or cheap parts, hound on the drivetrain and it will give up on you. The use of a light weight (or super light) crank is fine. Consult a pro engine shop on which one is best for your goals.

The stroker engine has the ability to rev like if not quicker than a OE 340 can without a doubt or issue while still making use of stock con/rods.