One regret I have on my engine was building it with Eagle/SCAT rods and crank. Not that they haven't performed, I've had no problems. But I want to support American manufacturing and companies as much as I can (used a DART block and AFR heads at least).
There was the cost of course. I don't know what other people's experiences are,and maybe this was more with the crank then the rods as I already had the rods for this buildup, it seemed like it was going to be a nominal 6 week lead time to get a crank (which means 10 weeks in the real world). Whereas SCAT and Eagle both had the crank in every configuration ready to ship (ie juggling main and rod sizes and balance options).
Some people seem like they spend years buying parts and putting together an engine. I tend to pull a damaged engine and want to get it back in the car asap. My machinist already takes long enough to get it out the door as it is, and he will barely glance at your engine after teardown until all the parts are sitting on the build table. I just couldn't take spending MORE THAN TWICE as much for a crank and then also having to wait who knows how long (BTW this was for a 427 Windsor with small 2.5" mains and chevy rod journals, zero balance).
That was my experience anyway. Next time I replace rods I will go USA and name brand - If I can get them! Maybe I just didn't talk to the right people or try hard enough but seems like they all had a long lead time.
Greg since you are on this thread (well, you are on every thread), do you have an engine builder you like in the NW ? Who do you plan on taking your Mustang engine too ? PM if you want to avoid thread jacking.
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