
What is an L34 X Rod ?
#1
_pallbag_
Posted 01 December 2006 - 08:45 PM
#2
Posted 01 December 2006 - 09:03 PM
#3
Posted 01 December 2006 - 09:33 PM
#4
_JBM_
Posted 01 December 2006 - 11:13 PM
James
#5
_dave720gtr_
Posted 01 December 2006 - 11:30 PM
#6
_LX8VD69_
Posted 02 December 2006 - 12:00 AM
#7
_SSL31_
Posted 02 December 2006 - 09:27 PM
#8
Posted 02 December 2006 - 09:32 PM

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
Posted 02 December 2006 - 09:47 PM
All these rods had 3/8 bolts where the standard Holden rod bolt is slightly smaller.
Production A9X's had the standard rods.
#10
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
Posted 11 October 2025 - 06:23 AM
Will attach photos later.
#12
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
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
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:
V5H a.jpg 169.96K
2 downloads
V5H b.jpg 168.75K
2 downloads
L34 rod:
L34.jpg 311.44K
2 downloads
Side by side:
V5H v L34.jpg 470.18K
4 downloads
#15
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
Posted 11 October 2025 - 07:01 PM
#17
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.
Edited by S pack, 11 October 2025 - 07:55 PM.
#18
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
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.
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