How did you upgrade your short block?

Looking into blowing the engine in my ’96 Cougar. I’ve got a set of ’02 Romeo PI heads and consider it mandatory to at the very least swap out the stock slugs for something in the forged 18cc dish range. What I'm concerned about are the rods? I know they're not as tough as the old 5.0L units and I don’t plan on making any more than about 330-350rwhp….but will the stock rods hold out, or will they be living on borrowed time?

For those who have bought rod and piston kits…. What brand are they, where did you get them and what did you pay for them.