[jetenginedoctor]

Okay, this may be nit-picking, but let's look at the semantics here. . . . .

To most people, "stock" means as it was when it left the Ford/Chev/whatever production line. This would be an unmodified piece installed just as it was when it originally came off the assembly line.

In the context of your contribution, stock implies only that the part was a standard production piece, but not exclude a certain measure of alteration/modification. When somebody explains that they have installed "stock" rods in an engine, they typically don't mean that they've been polished/peened/bushed wristpin end/etc. Resized, sure. . . . new fasteners, we should all hope. A production crank that's had the counterweights cut down and knife-edged, zero balanced with ? hundred dollars worth of mallory stuffed in there, and de-stroked to give the rods a fighting chance of livng at 10k RPM isn't a "stock crank." Sure, that crank started out the same as the one in the old Torino engine per my example. But I think there's a world of difference between what the world considers "stock" and what you describe as "stock." I think the better way to describe what you're speaking of, would be to call them "modified production parts," and not simply a "stock bottom end."

Like I said, sorry to nit-pick. Not suggesting that you're being untruthful or anything, I just think that maybe you're description of the level of condition/preparation of "stock" production engine parts is a little broad.

BK