5.9L Magnum build with questions

See what your machinist is going to charge you to put the icons on the stock rods and r&r them. It may close enough in price to just go with the scat i beams. they are lighter than stock thus requiring a balance, but if youre going to spend the money why not spend it on upgrades.
He quoted me $55 to swap pistons which I didn’t think was too bad. That’s still quite a bit cheaper then rods and balancing. I appreciate your idea because it’s a good suggestion. The only reason I went with the Icons is because they are a direct swap for the stock pistons, plus they have valve reliefs allowing me to run a much better cam, and because they increase compression a whole point. That was just too many benefits to not using the stock pistons. Plus I’d spend hours cleaning the original pistons so I’m saving time as well.