Sorry for being parochial, but I still can't support a Chinese casting regardless of it being finished at home just to save a buck. I know it's a sign of the times, but 25.5 years in the military and seeing that emboldened theft in so many ways, they won't come through my shop, even if I lost a sale (or multiple).
I assume that also goes for Molnar rods?
Sorry Frank, I floated right by your post. It's a solid poke.
It is extremely unfortunate, and yes, looks to be speaking out of both sides of my mouth. Add SCAT, Eagle and K1 to that mix too, and there are many more. I hate it, I do try to avoid it when there is a US-made substitute as in this case. Not to mention, using Molnar stuff it isn't to save money either, so yet again another difference, if we had a US made alternative, I'd jump. In fact, my most recent build for myself (452 in the Cobra) runs Crower rods.
We are all forced to use some things with manufacturing in China. My only counter is that I draw the line at known stolen designs. That is the absolute main reason that I would kick those heads out of the shop, same with the intakes. It doesn't make it much better, but at least the R&D costs are paid for by the manufacturer who then profits here. The Stevens heads and whoever is making the intakes, as well as all the Speedmaster stuff, and all the names it changed from, stole all kinds of stuff from MSD, from Parker, from Edelbrock, you name it without legal right to it. It'd be criminal if done in the US between two US companies.
Keep in mind the manufacturer sent a set to me and I think to Brent too, I had my chance for input. Not interested then and not now. Just think if Jay's intake adapter shows up for 150 bucks? Should we buy them? Certainly not an unlikely scenario, easy when it's a company, how about if it's a friend like Jay?.
BTW I wouldn't be mean to anyone about choices they make to pay their bills, I just wouldn't do an engine if someone asked to do that top end, and man I hope some of my best customers don't ever ask
However, eventually it will fix itself, cost to entry will be too high in the US due to lower volume and nobody will do the R&D on anything that isn't high volume production, cool US made parts will stop and China won't create them on their own.
