Abstract: A method for treating a bushingless connecting rod, wherein the bushingless connecting rod comprises an elongated rod having a pin end configured to connect with a piston, and a crank end configured to connect with a crankshaft. The pin end includes a bore with an internal diameter. The method includes cleaning the pin end bore, masking and fixturing the pin end bore with elastomeric separators, and providing a high-phosphorous nickel alloy coating on the internal diameter of the pin end bore. The method may be applied to original equipment or to a worn engine undergoing a remanufacturing process.