The connecting rods are a pretty highly stressed item in the assembly. For Pontiac engines they have thick cross section, long, and heavy. The rods are a combination of spinning and reciprocating weight and the pistons hanging on the ends of them have to stop and change direction at TDC and BDC for every crankshaft revolution.
It amazes me the factory cast rods last more than a few seconds in a 455 on a drag strip run shifting at 5500rpm's, but they actually hold up pretty well.
The introduction of the low cost Eagle (and Eagle knock-offs/clone) "H" beam rods pretty much obsoleted any factory offerings, even the better Super Duty rods.
They "H" beams are light, strong, and nice features like 7/16" ARP cap screws, and full floating capabilities. We have had perfect success with them at any power level, even the less expensive "knock-offs" that look like Eagle rods but come in no-name boxes and no markings on them.
One also has to consider that even if you have the better factory forged rods, or even early versions that can be hardened, the time/expense put into them still doesn't come up with a rod any better than, if as good as a low cost currently available "H" beam rod.
I've seen folks attempt to harden and use early forged rods with DISASTEROUS results, so for serious power levels I would avoid them completely.....FWIW......Cliff
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https://cliffshighperformance.com/
73 Ventura, SOLD 455, 3740lbs, 11.30's at 120mph, 1977 Pontiac Q-jet, HO intake, HEI, 10" converter, 3.42 gears, DOT's, 7.20's at 96mph and still WAY under the roll bar rule. Best ET to date 7.18 at 97MPH (1/8th mile),
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