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i'm just curious about connecting rods and why all the newer style h beams and fancy i beams all use cap screws instead of a bolt and nut like the oem rods. then look at hi performance engines today and the main caps and heads are all held down with nuts on studs. aren't studs way stronger than bolts? so why the trend to move to bolts on one of the most important components of the engine instead of a nut and bolt?.....winter.....snow......bored....any engine gurus feel like enlightening me?



Rod bolts need to have a broached "notch" for clearance for the bolt head and to register the flat part of the bolt. This leaves a weak spot in the rod. With cap screws this operation is not needed and more material is available around the big end.