Um ya 2.5-3 gallons out of the cv engines. That was with normal running, the sleeve and pistons in those engines are junk, and they wear out to fast, now if your getting more out of them, then you are taking it very easy. As for the connecting rod, I dont know about changing it every other rebuild, but the smart thing to do is to change it at least everytime you rebuild, I sugjest the next time you buy a new engine, messure the rod, run 2 gallons through it and messure it again, any increase in the length is a key sign that it will need to be replaced!! I only speak from expierience here, not from what Ivew read or heard!!