I still do not understand why Utahski posted in this thread, or what his background is.
I hate to say it, but after reading the thread again, it reads like he was "put up to it". A common but irritating sales tactic on internet sites, that I call the Proxy Attack.
As far as I can tell from this thread, he has never run aftermarket rods, isn't a machinist or engineer, and doesn't sell rods. At least when Ben posted critically, his opinion was based on past experience. Utahski on the other hand claims no such experience, or any stake whatsoever.
Now the question becomes, "Should we allow that kind of posting?"
That is a toughy. We certainly permit differing opinions on tech issues, but what if the "opinions" aren't really their's and are just proxy attacks from competing shops? We don't permit Vendor Wars, and the proxy attack has always been a popular way around such rules.
As you can see, it can chase tech off a board. Many shops believe that tech on websites (other than their ads) negatively affects their business, so it is in their best interest to chase away as many techies as possible.
There is no simple solution for this problem, but I certainly thank all of you who posted their opinions questioning Utahski. Tomorrow it will be lift pumps, camshafts, converters, axles, etc. The best way to defend again proxy attacks is to question the attacker and their motives.
Question my motives all you want. Say I was "put up to" something and you'd be wrong. If others do "proxy attacks," fine, I don't. Nobody puts me up to anything so don't even go there. I've explained enough, if someone doesn't understand my reasons then they just don't understand.....I'm not gonna bother with it anymore. Funny how things change according to who's doing the posting. Some people get slammed, some don't. I remember how Wade took a huge beating about his aluminum rods, now these same people don't like me saying something about this. Maybe just a little hypocritical?