Help needed with rod/ piston selection.

Been looking through some catalogs and came up with a couple choices for our Gen III hemi project and would like to know opinions on these setups. Basically are there any brands here you would not trust?

6.4 hemi, factory srt crank.

Combo 1: Ross Pistons, Manley rods arp2000 bolts

Combo 2: CP/Carillo pistons, Molnar rods arp 2000 bolts


Both kits are priced the same, and both have the same compression ratio so we thought we would ask MOPARTS for the lowdown.

Thanks

Both are good choices Which pistons and rods are the lightest? I like and use the lightest rods and pistons I can in most cases

I would pick combo 1 because I have used Ross and Manley before. I have not used either company in option 2 so that's why.

Both are good choices. A lot of guys also use K1 rods with Diamond pistons.

I have Manley pistons,rods,crank,valves,Springs and pushrods in mine. I'm using Mahle rings though.

Thank you gents, It looks like either one would work well. As far as weight, I have no idea. I will search and possibly that could be the deciding factor.

I'm not a big fan of Ross pistons. My only firsthand experience with them was a bad one. Stock crank 4.6 cobra mustang with stock length aftermarket rods and Ross pistons. You would think that stock crank and length rods would mean the pistons would clear everything, but the skirts hit the counterweights at BDC. A guy who I used to work for tried some in a turbo Buick V6 and couldn't get them to stop scuffing the skirts. He claimed that they kept increasing the bore clearance and it didn't change the results. Take that for whatever it's worth as it's not my first hand experience and I don't know what the combination was entirely.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who haven't had any issues either, but I thought I'd share my experience with you anyway. Good luck with whatever you choose.
Oh, Ohio crankshaft has a couple choices for cranks as well. Don't know how their quality is, but it's one more option.
http://www.ohiocrank.com/mopar_cranks.html

Pistons I think CP or Mahle are the high tech leaders.

For rods how much do you want to spend? Manley has like six different styles. Carrillo has been making big noises in the NASCAR ranks, as has Pankl and Lentz. Then there's Parabolic Billet from Oliver, I just like the way they look. So you are living in a golden age, it's pretty hard to make a bad choice, especially when you start talking about a set of rods that costs over $1000.

R.

You chould check the piston design. Modern piston design has a honeycomb patten with beams linking the skirts together, and they are stronger for their weight than the old circular design. This design is used for Nascar, motorcycles etc. and enables short and lighter X-pins.

I decided to go with the CP bullet series pistons and rods from Molnar. I have heard good things about both and want to say thanks again for helping out.

Fellows. I have ordered the Molnar/CP combination but I want to pick your brains about rod weight. It seems as though I had two choices for Molnar rods- the standard rod and what they call a " turbo" rod that weighs 50 grams or so more. Did I go wrong by ordering the standard rod?

Not unless you want to put it on Boost. No need adding weight you don't need. Contact Tom Molnar directly if you have any questions. He answer any questions you may have.
Doug

This engine will be boosted. Looks like I need to call Tom and get his opinions as well. I wonder if he will let me pay the difference and trade up?