Here's What Happens If You Use Springs For Con Rods
The people behind Garage 54 have built a hugely successful YouTube channel revolving around answering mechanical questions no one thought to ask. And one of the Russian outfit’s latest videos is - surely - the prime example.
In this outing, based on an image that was sent to the team, Garage 54 is posing the following question: what if instead of con rods, an engine’s pistons are joined to the crank using springs? Valve springs were chosen for the job, and after a hefty welding session, the experiment was ready to begin.
There were worries the engine wouldn’t turn over at all, but a quick manual crank of the Lada’s engine proved successful. But trying to actually start it? Let’s just say that didn’t end so well for the unit.
This isn’t the first time Garage 54 has replaced key engine components with something unconventional, it’s worth pointing out - not so long ago, the channel had a bash at making wooden pistons…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Seems Garage54 have come to our rescue again to show us what happens, you cant fault these guys for pushing the envelope, most of us just think “What if we put springs in instead of conrods” and then Garage54 says “Hold my Vodka” and does it!
LOL Pretty much
Funny enough, this is more or less why aluminum con rods are used on high power applications. The aluminum rods compress a little on the power stroke. This helps reduce the wear on the rest of the rotating assembly.