Don't bother with the new rod use the old one or buy an old one. There were a batch of unhardened or just plain junk steel ones around. I will post a pic of the junk M.P. rod that was in my hemi. I found a few old ones from the 60's in a local parts store that is what I'm running now. A member here McCannix did have some new old stock rods he was selling. They would be good ones.