The hot rods is deffinantly stronger than the stock rod. The one thing i like about the hot rods is the bronze bushed small end. I dont like the way the factory dont do this. For the price i would get the hot rods set up because by the time you get an aftermarket rod and then pay to have the crank seperated your more than a drop in hot rods crank and rod. Ive seen them brand new on ebay for about 225-250.