The connecting rods on the left in these pictures don't look stock to me. Anyone have any idea if they are stock or who makes them?

 

GM didn't switch from the forged "pink" rods to the powder metal (PM) rods until part way through the 94 model year (I believe?). Left one looks like the forged rods and the other like the PM rod.

 

the one on the left looks cleaner, more refined, which in my mind equals better quality (?) I have 8 of each, and the set on the left was in a "stock" motor, but I wanted to be sure - I was actually hoping I had been fortunate to have scored some nice rods, but I think you're right, same only different

 

the ones on the left look identical to the rods that came out of my original late 94 model year motor. The other ones look like a horrible dream come true :P

 

The ones on the left look like a set of stockers I got from an early LT1 vette motor. the ridge of the I is fatter on one side than the other.

 

The left one is powdered metal, the right one is forged.

 

is one better than the other?

edit: found this interesting article:
(cliff notes)
Since 1986, more than 500 million powder forged (PF) connecting rods have been
manufactured and installed in automobiles worldwide. The application of forging a preformed
near-net shape consolidated from metal powder has been widely accepted since the early
eighties and today is the preferred manufacturing technique for 60% of the connecting rods
manufactured in North America. The remaining portion of the connecting rod market segment
is produced by use of either conventional steel forging, or to a lesser extent, casting
manufacturing processes.

http://www.pickpm.com/designcenter/Conrod.pdf