Jump to content


What is an L34 X Rod ?


  • Please log in to reply
18 replies to this topic

#1 _pallbag_

_pallbag_
  • Guests

Posted 01 December 2006 - 08:45 PM

eBay link

#2 Peterpilot

Peterpilot

    Forum Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 185 posts
  • Name:Peter
  • Location:Sydney
  • Car:SS Hatch
  • Joined: 09-January 06
Garage View Garage

Posted 01 December 2006 - 09:03 PM

Conrods, I heard that L-34 blocks had an "X" cast on the block, might have something to do with it. However, I don't know if this is true, nor do I know if L-34 conrods were different to standard.

#3 lakeside

lakeside

    Lotsa Posts!

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,703 posts
  • Name:Col
  • Location:melb
  • Car:LC SBC
  • Joined: 07-November 05

Posted 01 December 2006 - 09:33 PM

L34 rod have the cross. The blk motors and on, have the same rod with no cross which are called A9L rods. L34's are a stronger rod with bigger bolts, than the standard ones.

#4 _JBM_

_JBM_
  • Guests

Posted 01 December 2006 - 11:13 PM

The X is on the web of the conrod and was mainly to distinguish them from normal rods similarly to the HP on the side of the 179 blocks.

James

#5 _dave720gtr_

_dave720gtr_
  • Guests

Posted 01 December 2006 - 11:30 PM

yes thats right the l34 rods had the x thay were repco forged steel with a stronger cross section and larger diameter retaining bolts.

#6 _LX8VD69_

_LX8VD69_
  • Guests

Posted 02 December 2006 - 12:00 AM

A9L rods do have a cross on them i think they have a large X whilst L34 rods have a small X or it could be the other way around, but i know they definatly have a X on them ive seen them

#7 _SSL31_

_SSL31_
  • Guests

Posted 02 December 2006 - 09:27 PM

L34 rods marked with an x , A9L rods have a small raised rib at the centre of the big end shank , and A9L Group A are a thicker chunkyer version with that same raised rib at the centre of the big end shank , but as they say H beams are best , but I reckon they have to be pretty equal to A9L Group A rods...X rods are pretty strong , but stock A9L's are stronger , different materials used in the making and forgeing with what I ve been told...

#8 LXdamo

LXdamo

    Still Lurking

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 521 posts
  • Name:Damo
  • Location:ADL/PER/ZNE
  • Car:bits here bits there.....
  • Joined: 22-December 05

Posted 02 December 2006 - 09:32 PM

like these
Posted Image

one on the left is a L34 or "X" rod,centre is an A9L and the stock one is on the end
A9L's also have larger rod bolts
My "X" rods came out of a standard VL 308

Edited by LXdamo, 02 December 2006 - 09:35 PM.


#9 micklx

micklx

    Forum Fixture

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,785 posts
  • Name:Mick
  • Location:Frankston South
  • Joined: 18-November 05

Posted 02 December 2006 - 09:47 PM

I believe L35 rods had the large X, A9L rods (VK Group A etc) had the small X, VN onward had the spike and VN Group A had the spike as well as more meat around the rod bolts (but weigh 45 grams more than the std VN rod which some people find undesireable).
All these rods had 3/8 bolts where the standard Holden rod bolt is slightly smaller.
Production A9X's had the standard rods.

#10 sharpie

sharpie

    Forum Participant

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 6 posts
  • Name:Chris
  • Location:Melbourne
  • Car:LH
  • Joined: 07-October 25

Posted 10 October 2025 - 10:17 PM

From what Ive seen from videos and picks of rebuilds (and Shiney005's reseal) the small elongated x on the rod is the L34 rod, yet LXdamo has one come out of a standard VL? I've also seen people with the large square x also claim to be L34.  L34 rods are the only factory rods forged from what I understand, and everything else is cast, including the A9L spike, the chunky group C A9L rod, so I assume the large square x rod is from the Vk VL Commies( assuming they did actually come out with a x rod ?),which doesnt explain LXdamos rod. I'm also not sure if the A9L spike is pressed powdered metal as it has a smoother finish.  Is there a cast rod with a small X identical to the L34 in the commodores that is cast? or is that the large square X? Does anyone know for sure? How can you tell if you have a forged L34 rod? The parting face on the sides of all the rods seem to be ground so its hard to tell between cast and forged, for me anyway? is there a weight difference? How many variations of rod are there for production holden V8's? Has micklx got it right or just mixed the x's around? And LXdamo's rod? Any help would be greatly appreciated.



#11 yel327

yel327

    Oh My, Don't you post alot

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,864 posts
  • Joined: 10-February 08

Posted 11 October 2025 - 06:23 AM

Wide X is L34. I used to pull rods out of VK engines in the 80’s which were the narrow X. I still have some and one L34 rod, they are identical apart from the X width. Both are cast, they appear to be the same cast pattern other than the X width.

Will attach photos later.

#12 sharpie

sharpie

    Forum Participant

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 6 posts
  • Name:Chris
  • Location:Melbourne
  • Car:LH
  • Joined: 07-October 25

Posted 11 October 2025 - 12:30 PM

ok thats what I originally thought but there are contradictions. First the L34 rod was apparently a forged rod produced by Repco.

https://classicthrot...rce=chatgpt.com

 

This is in a genuine L34, Shiney005's reseal pic 

https://www.gmh-tora...attach_id=40446

it is the small elongated x 

 

this is also out of a genuine L34

https://www.my105.co...0c-cfc6e8c8eef5

 

another pic of the small elongated x

https://www.justpart...con-rods-x-rods)/JPM4024184

 

but we have LXdamo and you to confirm the small x is in the VK and VL

 

this is what I thought the L34 x was, the wide square X

https://www.facebook...58544292&type=3

 

whats going on??? is this an aftermarket L34 rod?


Edited by sharpie, 11 October 2025 - 12:40 PM.


#13 sharpie

sharpie

    Forum Participant

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 6 posts
  • Name:Chris
  • Location:Melbourne
  • Car:LH
  • Joined: 07-October 25

Posted 11 October 2025 - 01:33 PM

ok... I've had a look around and there are people saying L34 are forged but nothing reliable and there doesnt seem to be anything official stating they are forged so ...  they are probably not forged as yel327 stated.

 

So, if the same x is in l34 toranas and vk commies then perhaps they are the same rod...A stronger rod needed for the vk untill the spike came out.. makes sense. But its only an assumption.

 

Still doesnt account for the large x rod, unless it was aftermarket, or there are 2 x L34 rods. maybe one was forged? maybe the guys that raced a9x homologation race cars used them with the rule changes??  too many maybes. Help...



#14 yel327

yel327

    Oh My, Don't you post alot

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,864 posts
  • Joined: 10-February 08

Posted 11 October 2025 - 03:21 PM

I found two sets of V5H rods in my shed and a single L34. The L34 looks cast to me.

 

A couple of V5H rods. The X is not symmetrical, you can see sometimes the smaller bit is upwards and sometimes downwards:

 

Attached File  V5H a.jpg   169.96K   2 downloadsAttached File  V5H b.jpg   168.75K   2 downloads

 

L34 rod:

 

Attached File  L34.jpg   311.44K   2 downloads

 

Side by side:

 

Attached File  V5H v L34.jpg   470.18K   4 downloads

 

 



#15 sharpie

sharpie

    Forum Participant

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 6 posts
  • Name:Chris
  • Location:Melbourne
  • Car:LH
  • Joined: 07-October 25

Posted 11 October 2025 - 05:04 PM

Thanks yel327. Are you sure the large x is L34? Because I've seen 3 examples of the small elongated V5H engine "X"rod that are exactly the same in genuine L34 engines. The large X isnt the same as in documented L34s Ive seen, unless there was an early and late version of the rods and they are both L34.

 

It appears that the same small x rod was used in both L34 and V5H? 



#16 yel327

yel327

    Oh My, Don't you post alot

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,864 posts
  • Joined: 10-February 08

Posted 11 October 2025 - 07:01 PM

I’m not sure, but I was given that one in the 80’s and told it was ex-L34.

#17 S pack

S pack

    Scrivet Counter

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 15,772 posts
  • Name:Dave
  • Location:Luggage Point
  • Car:73 LJ
  • Joined: 25-January 10

Posted 11 October 2025 - 07:54 PM

Looking at the L34 conrod photo in the LH Torana SL/R homologation documents the smaller X rod on the right looks like the L34 rod, especially the design of the cap.

 

post-4909-0-52100800-1760160077.jpg

 


 


Edited by S pack, 11 October 2025 - 07:55 PM.


#18 sharpie

sharpie

    Forum Participant

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 6 posts
  • Name:Chris
  • Location:Melbourne
  • Car:LH
  • Joined: 07-October 25

Posted 12 October 2025 - 04:17 PM

There does seem to be a few of the large x rods around, and many people know of them and assume they are L34. Would be interesting to know what they are.

 



#19 yel327

yel327

    Oh My, Don't you post alot

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,864 posts
  • Joined: 10-February 08

Posted Yesterday, 11:21 AM

There does seem to be a few of the large x rods around, and many people know of them and assume they are L34. Would be interesting to know what they are.

 

They have to be L34 or F5000, cannot be anything else. Same length, same construction, same bearing bore size. Just have a heavier duty cap. The ones I have with the narrow X 100% came out of VK engines - I pulled them apart myself.






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users