Big Three eye lightweight PM con rods: Aluminium in the spotlight as automakers look for weight loss…

Abstract

With the success in North America of sintered aluminium parts such as the camshaft bearing cap used without problems since 1993 in the dual overhead cam of the GM Northstar engine, and similar Al PM cam caps introduced recently in GM's Ecotec V-6 engine and Chrysler's 2.7 L V-6 and Saturn 4-cylinder engines, there is renewed interest among the Big Three auto producers in using PM aluminium in other more demanding applications such as connecting rods and automatic transmission oil pump gears, writes Bernard Williams.