A presently-preferred process for manufacturing a connecting rod comprises placing a heated preform suitable for being formed into the connecting rod into a closed forge die, and forging the preform in a first forging operation while the preform is at a forging temperature to form an as-forged connecting rod having vertical flash extending therefrom. The presently-preferred process further comprises placing the as-forged connecting rod in a second forge die while the as-forged connecting rod is at a temperature substantially equal to the forging temperature, and forging the vertical flash in a second forging operation. The presently-preferred process also comprises removing the as-forged connecting rod from the second forge die, and machining the as-forged connecting rod to predetermined dimensions.