My two 565's have the Eagle brand H-beam rods with the premium L-19 bolts (I think that's what they're called). Comp Star looks to be a very nicely machined H-beam connecting rod as well with a little more meat around the cap that cost something like $100-$150 more per set over the Eagles. You can go with a set of Oliver's or Carillo (spelling?) rods, but high dollar rods aren't always needed.

I also have hydraulic roller cams and currently have the Jesel Sportsman's series shaft mount rocker arms with about 112 hours on my engines so far. My engine builder (Dave Wesseldyk) has used several sets of the Jessel Sportsman's on many of the engines he builds.

I have heard rumors of the Sportsman's failing,.....BUT my engine builder said he has not yet had one failure of the Sportsman's. He told me that there may be some people that use them for the wrong application or that perhaps they just don't install them correctly...(???). He DOES happen to use the higher grade of Jessel's on his race engines or engines with larger solid/mechanical roller cams.

Dave said he installed the T&D shaft mount rockers with the spring oiling system on GLENNS two hydraulic roller cam NA 700hp engines only because Glenn wanted them...not because Dave felt they were absolutely neccessary. He's also using the Comp Star H-beams rods.

When discussing the Jessel brand, I wonder if the material of the rocker arm is the same from the Sportsman's to their higher line of shaft mounts...(???) They sure look the same to me with the only difference being that some have grooves machined/cut in them, but what do I know---I'm only a weekend warrior and just kill bugs for a living during the week.

I guess I wasn't truly comparing apples to apples on the rockers. I just want to build the most bullet proof long block that I can. I don't need to be building engines every year or every other year!

I looked at the Compstar rods but didn't see a HP rating. Do you have anything showing the rating?

If you want bullet proof, spend the extra!! I didnt ( couldnt afford it) so now the second time around I am.. ( second mortage on the old house!!)

Now compare these apples!! Just got em!

Dick

Dick,

Pretty cool looking. They should do the job for you. Its only money, just build more drives!!

Vinny

Are those the T&D Rockers? Nice set up!

Like they say Vinny, You cant take it with you.. LOL!

Yes they are T&D, but they are the steel rockers! About as strong as you can get. The Jessel upgrade needs to have machine work done to the head to have the tie bar installed. The T&D doesnt. Talk to RMbuilder, he can fill you in on all the details.

Hope this helps..
Dick

Kirk,re-reading your post I see your looking at connecting rods too. I would avoid the chinese stuff like the eagles and various copys of them.Comp products in wis sells a very nice american made connecting rod called a HRC ultimate duty I beam type fully cnc'd,have alignment bushings,arp 2000 rod bolts,manufactured from aircraft quality 4340 steel,very comparible to olivers and carrillos for 2/3'rds the price,you can also upgrade the rod bolts further too.They are rated to 1000hp and weigh 30-50 grams less than the h-beam imports and run 800$ a set,the eagles are rated for 850 hp and are bulkier,Smitty