I don't think you'll find anyone to argue that Eagles are as good as Carrillos, and the price agrees. The fact is they work well for the power level that most all the builds on here are looking to achieve.

 

+1

I think its hilarious when people throw money out the door for "the best parts" when they are not needed. Typical for this community if you ask me.

 

i agree T

 

big difference in all 3 rods are the rod bolts. that's what usually lets go first on the bottom end.

 

You mean the ARP 2000's that Eagle uses?

Some of you need to man up and just admit that you are nutswingers who need to be able to say you bought a top tier brand part over the cheaper alternative. I have no problem with that if you'd just be up front about it. If you say you won't buy Eagle cause their stuff is made in a commie country that undermines the US labor force, again, I am cool with that.

But any notion that Eagle rods aren't strong enough for 99.9% of the builds on here, is absurd.

 

By the way, Pauter and Eagle both use the same ARP 2000 220,000psi rated rod bolts. I dont know what Carrillo uses, because their website is broken.

http://www.pauter.com/4340_rods.htm

 

Hell i wouldn't have had a problem going w/ eagles, but my block was already pre-assembled. I would have liked to have saved that 500 dollars

 

3/8 WMC bolts normally, or the upgrade option of CARR bolts. The main difference being the ability to keep reusing the CARRs compared to the limited number of times a WMC can be reused.

 

I'd argue it. But my argument would be that the number of data points makes any observed difference statistically insignificant. Therefore no conclusion is possible, either for or against any aftermarket rod for the VQ35DE. All we can do is speculate based on rated specs, appearance and track record thus far.

I liked the weight of the Eagle rods (Carillo are even better as I recall but Pauter is heavy), the fact that QC is apparently performed here in the USA, and of course, the price.

 

EAGLE all the way!

 

Dammm.... I went with the Eagle Rods....so I cant man up at this time ...but for other stuff....OK I confess

 

That is my understanding as well.

For anyone coming across this thread without doing the full research, keep in mind that, as has been said countless times in this forum, pushing the STOCK VQ35DE rods beyond 400-430 hp can end up in disaster.

 

you likes teh menzez?

 

 

Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery

 

I ended up going with Eagle rods as well, but after doing a heck of a lot of research on the subject.

Nonetheless, sometimes it is just easier to go with the standard recommendations as a means of insurance. I originally anticipated going with Carillo rods and Arias pistons, but changed to Eagle rods and Wiseco pistons after multiple consultations with both the builder of my short block and my tuner, and scouring the Internet for all other information that I could find relating to the various options. That said, the time I spent researching the subjects cost me way more money in lost time than I saved with the purchases. I'm very happy with my selections, but I could not fault anyone for just taking the proven path for the VQ35 motors. To research each and every part on a complex build takes a monumental dedication of time.

My recommedation is to pick a reputable tuner/builder and go with what they recommend. Also, build with a comfortable safety margin. My hp goals increased 50% as I proceeded with my build, so I ended up swapping out a few components that had already been paid for and installed. Luckily, only a few...

 

I will nominally agree with your post, but at the same time, you have to be careful about following that "tried and true" path blindly.

Remember, it was not long ago when "tried and true" was anything north of 550whp required a sleeved block. The same could be said of oversized head studs. These things turned out to be not only unneccesary and expensive, but in some cases disasterous.

 

I never said there is something wrong with using the best and most expensive parts. Hell if money wasnt an option I wouldnt even think about cheaper options. My only reasoning behind my comments were most people think they are a better product just by the cost alone without doing their research on the subject.

 

Very true.

But at that time going to 650-700 hp on a VQ35 without sleeves and oversized head studs was also unproven, and thus risky. So, I'm not sure that everyone going in that direction was going into it blindly. There just may not have been sufficient data at that time to implement the build strategies that, in hindsight, now seem best. That said, it appears to me that the builders/tuners on this site have been learning from the historical data and have been modifying their build strategies accordingly. This is one of the great advantages that this forum provides to those of us who follow it.

 

I agree with 100% that the most expensive parts are not always the best, nor are they always the most suitable!

For example, as others have noted, Eagle rods are cheaper and lighter than Pauter rods, and Eagle rods are showing a very good track record for builds under 1000 hp. Fortunately, for those just now contemplating their builds, they will have this thread to guide them (if they come accross it).

When I selected my engine components, the information about Eagle rods and Wiseco pistons on this website was spotty at best. The information may be here somewhere, but the search engine used here does not guarantee you will find it easily. I therefore ended up spending a lot of time searching all kinds of other resources, but not everyone wants to spend that kind of time. If they can find solid recommendations that will work for them (e.g. Carrillo or Pauter rods and Arias pistons), it may be easier to just use them and save the hassle of the research that may be necessary to reassure themselves that less expensive components really are more than adequate for their needs. I did the research, but had I not, I would now be scared sh*tless asking my builder to push my engine to the hp levels I am now asking for. Since I did the research and I know the capabilities of the respective compents, I am very comfortable. As time goes on and more people post their successes and failures, component selection will become much clearer.