John,
You might try Dan at ganotech.com 1-712-336-3297. Dan is a very nice guy who stocks old new stock OMC parts. Been a few years from the last time I spoke with him. Anyone use his services lately? He is in Spirit lake, Iowa .
Just looked up his web site, he is still in business & Dan offers links to other sites if he doesn’t have the part needed.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by jeff-register.

I wouldn’t make that substitution….Although a few drops of loctite in addition to the keepers cant hurt. But, be sure the threads are nice and clean beforehand, those rods are hard enough to torque properly with those goofy rod cap screws…The torque spec is pretty low, so you want to make sure you have it right, or you know what might happen….D