rod bolts

[htchevyii]

Hey guys, The 1438 is at the engine shop & I'm trying to decide what to do for rod bolts. I see some have modified their rods & use ARP Ford bolts, but I think they had later engines. Are new stock bolts good enough, or am I going to end up with Chinese bolts that are worse than stock. I heard that the early bolts are the same as the sohc bolts? Sugestions? thanks

[spiderrey]

so you've decided to put a 1438 into your72?

[htchevyii]

Ya, the 1608 ended up being almost a total pile. Two sleeved cylinders, max overbore, chunk out of the block from previous thrown rod, etc. I was going to use the head, but my machine shop found previous welding/bad repairs. I couldn't find another 1608, but the guy I bought the car from had the 1438. He is a neat old guy (I think he's 78), and had a record at El Mirage with the engine in a 124 wagon.