Solution:

The connecting rod may either be cast or forged when created and may also include allowable secondary alloy elements.

The normalizing step includes heating a rough connecting rod to an austenite transformation temperature and holding the connecting rod above the austenite transformation temperature until the rough connecting rod is substantially completely austenitized. The connecting rod is then air cooled to create a part with a BCC structure having two structure phases composed of alternating plates of alpha- ferrite and iron carbide.

The induction hardening step is accomplished by energizing at least one electrical coil and bringing an electrical coil into functional proximity with an end of a connecting rod. The end of the connecting rod is heated above the austenitic temperature and quenched. This quenching forms a martensitic structure in a limited area of the rod. The induction hardening step may be selectively imparted on a first, second or both ends of the connecting rod to provide a martensitic structure in either or both ends of an exact size and of an exact location on the rod. The step of induction hardening creates a connecting rod with high hardness due to the martensitic transformation, not throughout the entire rod, but instead only where high hardness is required functionally.