Forged connecting rods Ford 2.0 16V EcoBoost (Focus ST / Mondeo) for forged pistons

The Ford 2.0 EcoBoost engine (GTDI)

The 2.0 EcoBoost is Ford's 1,999 cc direct-injection turbocharged inline four-cylinder, with twin overhead cams and sixteen valves. With an 87.5 mm bore and 83.1 mm stroke, it produces from 240 hp (176 kW) in the Mondeo V, Galaxy III and S-MAX to 250 hp (184 kW) in the Focus III ST, built from 2012 to date. It is the modern GTDI block that replaced the Duratec across the brand's mid-range and sporting line-up. As soon as boost, torque and rpm rise in a build, the factory fracture-split rod, sized for series use, becomes the weak link of the rotating assembly. Replacing it with weight-matched forged rods is the first step towards a reliable, durable 2.0 EcoBoost.

The forged connecting rods

Drop-forged and precision-machined, these rods handle bending, compression and fatigue loads far beyond what the factory 2.0 EcoBoost rod tolerates. They suit every discipline: circuit, time attack, drift, drag, rally and hillclimb. Depending on the build, they support a reliability-focused Stage 1 as well as a Stage 2 or a Stage 3 pushed on boost. Supplied as a complete set of 4 and weight-matched, they preserve the balance of the four-cylinder rotating assembly. All adopt the 2.0 EcoBoost's 22.5 mm piston pin, for a center-to-center length of around 155.85 mm.

Technical specifications of the Ford 2.0 EcoBoost forged rods (22.5 mm pin)

Tightening torque and stretch

On these rods, tightening is controlled by bolt stretch, measured with a gauge, rather than by torque alone. The values below are given as a guide: always follow the bolt manufacturer's instructions.

Forged rods technical guide

4340 forged steel

These rods are forged from 4340 low-alloy nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel, the benchmark for high-performance rods. Forged, then quenched and tempered, it keeps a continuous grain flow that gives high tensile strength and excellent fatigue life, two decisive assets on a heavily boosted 2.0 EcoBoost. Compared with a cost-optimised factory fracture-split rod, a forged 4340 rod gains about +19% yield strength, +8% tensile strength and +19 to +37% in fatigue endurance. It is this margin that absorbs the torque and boost increases of a prepared 2.0 without breakage.

The rod profile

The range brings together three profiles. The I-beam, offered by ZRP and Wössner, gives an excellent stiffness-to-weight balance, particularly relevant on a boosted 2.0 where a light assembly matters as much as bending resistance. Manley offers this profile in an I-HD (Heavy Duty) reinforced section, and also provides an H-beam. The specification table lists, for each reference, the center-to-center length, big-end diameter, big-end width and weight.

	I profile: I-beam with an optimised stiffness-to-weight ratio, chosen by ZRP and Wössner (which machines it in its A-Beam form, an optimised I-beam); Manley also offers a reinforced I-HD (Turbo Tuff) version with a thicker beam for high boost loads.
	H profile: H-beam by Manley, whose two flat flanks give high bending stiffness for a controlled weight, favoured on builds carrying heavy torque.

How to choose your rod bolts?

	ARP 2000: the all-round benchmark alloy, with a tensile strength of about 220,000 psi (1,517 MPa). Offered here in 3/8" diameter, it covers the vast majority of 2.0 EcoBoost builds, up to about 200 hp per cylinder, at speeds reaching 8,500 rpm. Sturdy, reliable and with no storage constraints, it is the default choice for a reliable 2.0, from Stage 1 to Stage 3.
	ARP L19: a very high-strength steel, around 260,000 psi (1,793 MPa), for the most extreme builds. In 3/8" diameter, it targets about 250 hp per cylinder and assemblies that climb high on rpm and boost. More sensitive to corrosion, it demands careful oiling and dry storage: it is the bolt choice for hard-run competition engines.

Measuring bolt stretch

Discover the ARP stretch gauge

The brands offered

This 2.0 EcoBoost range brings together three race forged-rod manufacturers. ZRP precision-machines and weight-matches its rods, in the I profile. Manley, a US reference, offers its H and I-HD (Turbo Tuff) profiles built for heavy loads. Wössner, a respected German manufacturer, offers its A-Beam profile (an optimised I-beam) in 4340 steel. Each reference ships as a complete set of 4, with its dedicated ARP bolts.

ZRP

Manley

Wössner

Glossary

1) Small end 2) Small-end diameter 3) Rod beam 4) Rod bolt 5) Big end 6) Rod nut / bolt 7) Rod cap 8) Big-end diameter 9) Center-to-center

Vehicle compatibility

These forged rods fit the Fords powered by the 2.0 L 16-valve EcoBoost four-cylinder (GTDI), from the Focus ST to the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-MAX:

Why is it the most economical solution?

A set of forged rods costs vastly less than a blown engine: on a 2.0 EcoBoost pushed on boost and rpm, a factory rod that lets go takes out the block and the crankshaft. By fitting weight-matched forged rods from the outset, you make your build reliable for the long term and spare yourself a full rebuild, for a negligible extra cost next to the price of a new engine.