Eagle Vs. Scat FE rods. 6.490. Which is better?

[67428GT500]

I was curious what most thought of Scat rods Vs. Eagles. If you have a preference, why? I am looking at the H beam standard length rods.

                                                                           -Keith

[blykins]

No Eagle stuff here. 

Between the two, Scat all the way.  If you want something better than Scat, the Molnar FE rods are top notch and are significantly lighter. 

[Falcon67]

I have Molnar in my Cleveland stroker, Very nice, correct in all dimensions.  FWIW< I also have a set of Eagle 351C H-beam rods.  Those are dimensionally correct and weight is matched at 1g across the set of 8.  That's a sample of one (1) set.  I'd go with what my engine kit supplier suggested.  Scat and Molnar - good parts. 

[cjshaker]

I've had a set of Eagles in my 427 for almost 20 years now, no issues. 6000 limit, which I bump up to 6500 when racing, which isn't all that often. Back when I first built the engine, there weren't many choices for aftermarket rods, at least in a reasonable price range.

I've heard all the bad stories about Eagles, but I think that almost always applies to dedicated racing applications. Having said that though, I still want to change them out next time I go through the engine. Scat seems to be the better choice for affordable rods.

[blykins]

I've had a set of Eagles in my 427 for almost 20 years now, no issues. 6000 limit, which I bump up to 6500 when racing, which isn't all that often. Back when I first built the engine, there weren't many choices for aftermarket rods, at least in a reasonable price range.

I've heard all the bad stories about Eagles, but I think that almost always applies to dedicated racing applications. Having said that though, I still want to change them out next time I go through the engine. Scat seems to be the better choice for affordable rods.

I know lots of guys who have good luck out of them, but they all seem to be SBF/SBC stuff.  I've used one Eagle crank and it was a 4340 piece for a SBF....that was 16 years ago.  When I first started my business, I ordered (2) Eagle 4.300" BBF cranks and both of them came in pitted on the rod journals.  I sent them both back and bought Scat from there on out. 

What *really* got me turned away from Eagle was the run of bad FE cranks.  A few years back, several guys on Club Cobra scattered some engines because the Eagle cranks broke.  They were all breaking off at the 1/5 rod journal.  That kinda tainted my view of Eagle.

Chances are though, if the rods are sized correctly that they would probably work just fine, just like you're seeing.  I just have a much larger sample size with Scat and have had really good parts from them over the years.   

The Molnar FE rods are really nice too.  They are substantially lighter than the Eagles/Scats and come with ARP2000 bolts.  They are about $100 higher though. 

[fekbmax]

I had a Eagle rod break on me on pass #4. .040 390 with 12/1 compression and a 428 crank. Everything looked great, bearings looked brand new. Rod broke high up near the pin and trashed the block. I'm sure it was a fluke and just 1 bad part but it left a bad taste in my mouth and for me no more eagle stuff.

[Bolted to Floor]

I bought Eagle rods in 2016.

After a lot of reading, I didn't find that many negative comments......availability was good and the price was fair. The machinist that balanced the rotating assemble said all looked well. Got about 4000 miles on the car with occasional runs up to 5500 RPM. Most of the time, its around 2250 going down the road.

[67xr7cat]

Over the years main difference between Scat and Eagle be scat considered better qc. As stated Eagle had a few issues over the years mainly with cast cranks breaking although have not heard of that issue for years. Of the three agree with eagle, scat, molnar with molnar being the best.

That all said was a time you had stock rods and USA made aftermarket like crower etc... So you reworked stock or paid $$$ for a good rod. Now a days you hear stock are old don't know the history or how many cycles. Aftermarket stronger better material.

To me a new China rod has two things against it QC and not a proven part. A factory rod properly prepped has going for it is proven in that it had no flaws that would result in initial failure. It also if been reworked you will know very well it's condition. Now thanks to cheap China rods redoing stock rods don't pay unless you can do them yourself.

Think for a none race engine a properly prepped stock rod or China rod that passes a mag and inspection be about all can do.

I do feel the Molnar is moving the needle towards a good race rod.

[e philpott]

In 1999 I bought a set of Eagle H Beams for my 416 ( 699.00 from Jegs if I recall correctly) and can't tell you how many times it has been past 7000 rpm but almost every time I've driving it in the past 20 years !! It's seen 7500 I would guess several hundred times not counting missed gears , I don't even think about them anymore but with that said my new BBM short block will have a set of Molnars

[67428GT500]

I bought the Scat rods with the ARP2000 bolts for 440.00 to the door.   My Shelby had some work and put out a respectable 500 HP.  After the machinist screwed the block up and I had to buy another and JE pistons I decided to go another route on this build.  The rods I currently in have in it I know exactly how much time was on them. They are NOS CJ rods that came from sealed Ford boxes. I had them magged, ARP bolts installed, polished beams, balanced and shot-peened and sized.
They have exactly 397 miles on them.
I guess I'll put them up here for sale.
                                                                             -Keith

[wayne]

I like dsc motorsport max duty h beams good rods and price.

[67xr7cat]

I like dsc motorsport max duty h beams good rods and price.

Any issue with the machine work out of the box?

[67428GT500]

I have been dealing with Dennis for over 20 years. DSC  is who supplied the rods. "His" rods are Scat with the bells and whistles.  I will let you know how sizing goes when Charles Eller balances the bottom end.
                                                                                -Keith

[67xr7cat]

Well I bought a set from him on Saturday. For the record he told me they are made in the same factory as scat or eagle and he buys them in bulk. Also said had about 150 sets out there and  no failures, but sometimes the big end is off which think can expect with a China rod.

[blykins]

Just for the record, Molnar rods are made in China too.  As are Compstar rods.

I always hate when people say "China rod" like they're evil or something.  There are good Chinese parts and bad Chinese parts, just like there are good US parts and bad US parts.   

Just because they're a "China rod" doesn't mean that they're going to be out of round or tapered, or have anything wrong with them at all. 

FWIW, I'd put my money on any of the "Chinese" rods before I'd throw a set of 50 year old factory rods in a performance build.