What’s the best rods for the build

Mean416 said

The factory stuff takes a lot more punishment than folks give credit for. I'd run reconditioned factory forged rods over whatever cheaply sourced base level/cheap offering from 440 source. And with those rods you still would be advised to swap to better bolts.

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There is no way a 50 to 60 year old factory rod is better than a new 4340 H-beam regardless of where you buy it at.

Metallurgy is superior in new rods to OEM rods, larger diameter bolts, cap screw bolts clamp tighter, and a lot of aftermarket rods are lighter than OEM.

Now if you buy a Molnar rod you know you're getting real ARP bolts because they source them from ARP and install then at their shop in Michigan when doing the final honing.

If your dealing with junkyard parts and you have no real money in an engine that's one thing, but for what it cost to build even an economy engine today, let alone

something you have $10,000 in WHY would you ever take the chance and running a 50-60 year old OEM connecting rod with who knows how many cycles it has on it?

Tom