Being my first post, at the bottom I'll provide a little bit of info about me, but I'll start with the actual reason for the post first.   

So I'm looking at the distinct possibility of building a long rod FE (332, 352, 360) and wanted to know if anyone on the forum has any experience with these.  I'm already aware that aftermarket rods are non-existent, and that pistons can be a problem as well.  I intend to use the stock rods with ARP bolts which limits my issue to pistons.  So has anyone out there built one of these?  Any idea how much RPM the rods can handle on a 3.5" stroke?  Just looking for some insight from experience.   

As for me (and this will probably answer the question as to why this idiot is shooting himself in the foot and building a long rod engine) I have been on and off toying with cars and motorcycles for the better part of 30 years but life always got in the way of the hobby.  I fell in love with the FE sound after watching Bullitt as a kid and ever since then I wanted one.  It was then I would hear my dad talk about street racing his 1960 Starliner with the solid lifter 352 in it and the hook was set.  That has set me up with a love of the short strokers.  I also am a very build it rather than buy it guy and prefer to keep external aftermarket parts confined to the intake manifold (Jay, expect an e-mail to put me on a list for an intake manifold adapter  ) and headers and use stock castings for the heads and block.  I learned of Jay and this site from Hot Rod Drag Week on YouTube (which I just found and binge watched about 6 months ago) and hope to have my '65 F-100 there for 2018 (wish I could make 2017 but I know I won't have the cage in it by then).

That's it for now, look forward to getting to know y'all!!!

-Eric