Skunk2 Alpha Series Subaru EJ25 Connecting Rods

When you're rebuilding the engine in your 2004-2013 Subaru Forester, especially if you're aiming for more power, you need connecting rods that can handle the stress. This set from Skunk2 Racing includes four Alpha Series connecting rods, forged from 4340 chromoly steel with a robust H-beam design. This construction is chosen for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, making them capable of supporting over 900 horsepower.

Skunk2 puts a lot of effort into ensuring the quality of their 4340 chromoly. They perform extensive material testing and work closely with their foundry to produce these well-built rods. Each rod goes through comprehensive heat-treating, tempering, and shot-peening processes to ensure consistency and strength, reducing fatigue. To guarantee integrity, every rod is magna-flux inspected, confirming that all manufacturing steps meet Skunk2's strict specifications. Engineers used FEA analysis to pinpoint high-stress areas and incorporated features to reduce wear and boost strength. The straight H-beam design distributes stress over a larger area compared to tapered rods, offering more support where it's needed. These rods are made from two-piece forgings, which helps orient the metal's grain along the rod cap in the direction of stress, significantly increasing strength.

You'll also find dual oil passages at the pin ends of these rods. This feature provides extra lubrication and cooling for the wrist pin, contributing to a stronger, more durable rod. Skunk2's offset oil passages are carefully positioned to ensure lubrication circulates around the entire wrist pin during every phase of the engine cycle. This set comes complete with 3/8-inch ARP2000 bolts and includes a specialized lubricant for installation. Each rod is balanced to within 1 gram, ensuring smooth operation.