The sintered powder metal connecting rod is a mainstay of almost every auto manufacturer, as this construction method produces very strong and comparatively lightweight parts. The Howards rods also use a "fractured" cap. This means the rod and cap are formed as a single piece and the cap is carefully "split" afterward. The idea is to create a puzzle-piece fit that is ultimately stronger and better sealing than machined/saw-cut rods and caps. Howards specifies premium ARP hardware, including ARP 2000 cap screws. But before you wave off the thought of mere regular-production engines not being up to the performance standards you would expect, the truth is, that compared to old-school rods of the muscle car days, powder metal parts are much stronger. In fact, the powder metal rods in the garden variety 3800 V-6 of your wife's Impala are stronger than the old Chevy "pink" rods. And as for the rods in the new Corvette's LS2 or LS7 engine, well, those much-respected forged steel pink rods are downright brittle in comparison. Howards says their new rods rate a 42 on the HRC hardness scale, with the typical "pink" rod delivering around a rating of 20."
