I'm more after the clones, and cheap harbor freight experiences. Briggs are going to get a pass since they were phased out in the 90's.
I'm not sure if its the casting quality being much better, smaller diameter (less inertia) of the briggs flathead flywheels or what, but they are solid! I have heard about the steel bolt on dippers failing though on the cast rods from too much flex and fatigue, so there is something to be said there. I am a big fan of the briggs flatheads, but this really isnt the focus of what I am going for. I'm going for the cheap predator 212 engines that people buy for $100 and try to hop up not knowing what to do.
What I am wanting to avoid is seeing people putting stage 3-4 modifications on a small predator engine, rev till the crank journal is dry, and then the rod seizes to the journal and before you know it knock knock or rod through the block.
Im not out here to say you must use billet if you do any modifications, but I am going to point out that there is a huge gray area once you start modifying. It's not like if you do stage 1 modifications and 18 lb springs that you will see failures, but some have already been submitted with magnet failures at 5500 rpm, others have said no problems at 7000.
I know I am going to be getting differences of opinions as well as experienced and non experienced input. This is to gather and compile information and present it so all can be educated and err on the side of caution rather than hope you don't throw a rod or break a magnet off a flywheel.