[Caddpro]

I bought a NEW SCAT balanced rotating assembly (331- I got a good deal on it). I go to remove the caps from the rods and find that one of the rods has a crossthreaded cap screw. I call SCAT and they are out of stock on 5.4 rods until the middle of May. I asked if this was a fluke or if he had ever heard of something like this. He told me it could be any # of things. So now I have to wait until I can get a rod from them with the correct weight to finish my build.

[Caddpro]

WTF!!! I am never buying anything from SCAT again. I still do not have a rod and they are telling me the end of June now. I was watching Speed channel's Chop, Cut, Rebuild show and they had a chevy rod that came from SCAT the same way. SCAT told me they could upgrade me to H beam rods for a small fee, but I would have to get everything rebalanced. I am suppose to hear from them on Monday what they can do, I told them I should not have to pay anything for their screw up.

On the brighter side, I have had more than enough time to get the K member installed, the fuel system (1/2" line, Holley blue pump, regulator, etc,) installed, shifter, exhaust system fitment and a ton of other things done. I have an extra 302 block and an empty C4 case that I used to mock everything up with. The BBK long tube headers and o/r h-pipe fit with a little adjusting with a BFH on the tube closest to the starter (needs 1/4" more space with the small bellhousing). Transmission (C4) has gotten the six pinion planetary with a low drag set installed. I will be running a 3000+ stall converter (custom from Camrod convertors out of Columbia, SC).

[Caddpro]

SCAT sent the H-beam rods out Friday and I should have them this week. I have to take everything to a local shop and have it rebalanced. Summit is going to credit me the cost of the balance towards a future purchase (aluminum driveshaft). So I hope to have everything in and running by July so I can make it to Mustang Week in Myrtle Beach, SC).

[ryans88gt]

I have heard of the rod bolt issue before. It is a galling issue. Seems like about 1 in 16 rods have a f'ed bolt.

[nolife]

Originally Posted by ryans88gt I have heard of the rod bolt issue before. It is a galling issue. Seems like about 1 in 16 rods have a f'ed bolt.

Isn't there some type of specialized substrate or dry coating that could be put on the bolts to reduce the chance of galling? I know there are many chemicals used for similar industrial purposes. Just asking. I've never built an engine.

[ryans88gt]

well I guess you wouldn't want the bolts to come free very easily, I don't know, but I'm thinking they just have a QC issue that needs to be addressed. I think scat's rods come from China.

[Caddpro]

Originally Posted by ryans88gt well I guess you wouldn't want the bolts to come free very easily, I don't know, but I'm thinking they just have a QC issue that needs to be addressed. I think scat's rods come from China.

SCAT rods do come from china, I found out after I ordered and had the issue. The guy at SCAT said all aftermarket rods are forged in China and shipped to US for machining. I told him I know that there are rods made in the US and his response was "Yeah and those rods cost $1500 a set." I told him that was BS and he said that yeah some rod makers say that they are US, but they are only machined in the US. I originally thought I got the 1 rod out of a million (figure of speech) that this F'd, after a little more research it seems this is not so uncommon.

[1slo5.0]

Originally Posted by Caddpro WTF!!! I am never buying anything from SCAT again. I still do not have a rod and they are telling me the end of June now. I was watching Speed channel's Chop, Cut, Rebuild show and they had a chevy rod that came from SCAT the same way. SCAT told me they could upgrade me to H beam rods for a small fee, but I would have to get everything rebalanced. I am suppose to hear from them on Monday what they can do, I told them I should not have to pay anything for their screw up. On the brighter side, I have had more than enough time to get the K member installed, the fuel system (1/2" line, Holley blue pump, regulator, etc,) installed, shifter, exhaust system fitment and a ton of other things done. I have an extra 302 block and an empty C4 case that I used to mock everything up with. The BBK long tube headers and o/r h-pipe fit with a little adjusting with a BFH on the tube closest to the starter (needs 1/4" more space with the small bellhousing). Transmission (C4) has gotten the six pinion planetary with a low drag set installed. I will be running a 3000+ stall converter (custom from Camrod convertors out of Columbia, SC).

If you are never going to buy from Scat again because one rod bolt was cross threaded, that is pretty stupid. All of these parts companies don't have all of these extra parts laying around. They are usually behind on their products. Not just Scat, alot of companies. This issue could have happened at the retailer. Someone could have taken the rod apart to show a customer and screwed it up there. Neither you nor Scat has any proof of when the incident happened. If it was that big of a deal to you then you should have bought a tap to chase the threads in the hole with. You would have only waited a matter of hours to fix your problem then. This is a very minor issue and Scat took care of you so I think saying you will never buy anything from them again is a little harsh and uncalled for.

[1slo5.0]

Originally Posted by Caddpro SCAT rods do come from china, I found out after I ordered and had the issue. The guy at SCAT said all aftermarket rods are forged in China and shipped to US for machining. I told him I know that there are rods made in the US and his response was "Yeah and those rods cost $1500 a set." I told him that was BS and he said that yeah some rod makers say that they are US, but they are only machined in the US. I originally thought I got the 1 rod out of a million (figure of speech) that this F'd, after a little more research it seems this is not so uncommon.

He is right. You can go pay $1500+ for a set of Oliver rods, Carillo rods, etc and then you can proudly say your rods are made in the USA. You can also proudly say that you have the best rods on the market. Chances are you won't need such a stout rod unless you are building a ton of horsepower.

[Caddpro]

I say I will never buy from SCAT again because of the way the handled the issue. Noone is perfect and I understand that, but when I get told that they will do something to remedy the issue and after 2-1/2 months nothing has been done. That is poor customer service in my book and that is what separates a good company from the rest. SCAT kept telling me there was nothing they could do until they got more rods in from China in the middle of May. OK. Well, May came and went and no rods. I call and they say end of June they hope. I tell them it is not acceptable and they say for a small cost to me they will upgrade me to H beam rods. What? Small cost? I call Summit, they call SCAT and I get them at no charge. Summit tells me that I should have went with an Eagle setup from the start. I almost went that route to begin with, but was offered $$$ off of a SCAT assembly. That is my fault for trying to save a little $$$.... Live and learn...

[Caddpro]

Originally Posted by Darrell If you are never going to buy from Scat again because one rod bolt was cross threaded, that is pretty stupid. All of these parts companies don't have all of these extra parts laying around. They are usually behind on their products. Not just Scat, alot of companies. This issue could have happened at the retailer. Someone could have taken the rod apart to show a customer and screwed it up there. Neither you nor Scat has any proof of when the incident happened. If it was that big of a deal to you then you should have bought a tap to chase the threads in the hole with. You would have only waited a matter of hours to fix your problem then. This is a very minor issue and Scat took care of you so I think saying you will never buy anything from them again is a little harsh and uncalled for.

SCAT dropped shipped the assembly straight to my door. I personally opened the plastic bag it was in. It came from SCAT that way. As far as chasing the threads with a tap, I took the rod to a local machine shop and they told me the only way they would feel comfortable with the rod is to drill and tap to the next size rod bolt. That would mean all rods would have to be done this way for proper balance among the rods. Then the assembly would have to be rebalanced anyway. I know that I will never buy a pre-balanced assembly again. Too much can go wrong. I will have everything balanced after all parts are checked for defects.