With the set that I received, the big end that was supposed to .014" varied from .009"-.017". Not between the different rods, but on the individual rods, some had an .008" taper on the big end. From the beginning the threads were looser than I consider satisfactory and no matter how much effort you used to clean them up they felt like sand was between the threads as you assembled the rods. The area where the capscrew meet the rod cap was roughly machined and the torque never felt smooth when tightening the capscrew. Did some machining to get the big ends parallel and to clean up the rod cap. I have no doubt that 440 Source would have sent me as many replacement rods as I may have requested, they are good about that! Shipping things back and forth was going to cost me time and I had to get my personal beater back together. There are H-beam rods that are only $150 dollars more that would be a better, stronger deal with far less prep time involved.