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Tech Review: Lunati X-Beam Connecting Rods

Posted By: nmrasalesdept
It's very easy to build big horsepower these days, but as you do, it's also important that the other areas of the driveline are reinforced to properly accommodate the added power. Fortifying the engine short-block is one of the first places people go to and Lunati recently released a new take on the connecting rod the X-Beam. While most engines utilize I-beam style connecting rods, heavy duty, high-horsepower applications see the implementation of the H-beam style connecting rods for their additional strength and longevity. With this design, though, comes the trade off of adding weight to the rotating assembly. As development in the high-performance world is always in fast-forward, it was only a matter of time before a new design emerged. For Lunati, that is the X-beam design, which the company debuted in 2019. To learn more about the product, we contacted our friends at the Comp Performance Group who handed us off to Lunati's Alex McCormick, lead engineer for this product. RP: What was the theory behind the X design of the new connecting rods AM: We wanted to create a unique design for a new connecting rod, since everything on the market has always been H- or I-beam designs. As I began to play with FEA and various designs, I found that the overall strength of a connecting rod could be kept the same, while reducing its weight with the X-beam design. This became our main focus, and we ended up with a Lightweight X-beam that has similar strength to our Voodoo H-beam design with a 75-gram weight savings and a Boosted X-beam that has similar weight to our Voodoo with increased strength. RP: Will this design eventually supersede traditional I- and H-beam designs, or are their still applications where those are optimal AM: Although I believe that there is a lot to gain with our X-beam design, you will always see H- and I-beam rods on the market. Both of these designs are easier to manufacture and will always have an advantage, cost wise, where maximum performance isn't required. However, this X-beam design can't be beaten when looking at strength vs. weight. RP: What are the differences between the lightweight NA version of the X-beam rod and the boosted version AM: The main difference is that the Boosted X-beam is a heavier rod with more strength. It features smaller cut outs on all faces and larger 7/16-inch ARP2000 rod bolts, compared to the Lightweight X-Beam's 3/8-inch ARP2000 rod bolts. RP: What engine applications are they available for AM: They are currently only available for the GM LS engine family in 6.125-inch length, but we are working on adding more to the lineup in the near future. There are a myriad of ways to build an engine, and choosing the right parts for your application will ensure you get the best performance from your powerplant. If you are in the market for connecting rods, the Lunati X-beam might just be what you need.   Source Lunati Power (662) 892-1500 http://www.lunatipower.com

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