if I go with the 686 kit 11:1 piston, stage 1 cam do I need to change the rod on my 03 raptor?

I may have the head ported later but not right now.

Which manufacture do you all use for the piston?

 

Topdollr, if you are under 250 lbs & don't rev the living crap out of your Raptor you should have no problem leaving the stock rod in. Curtis Sparks builds 686 full race engines with the stock rod all the time. I know many others who do the same including myself. I have done almost everything imaginable to mine including 35mm FCR carbs with the stock rod making around 55-60hp.
If you put in a bigger sleeve(> 102mm) or stroke it I would go with a stronger rod but but if you follow the above advice & change your oil frequently & keep it jetted correctly it should last a long time.
I had a few custom titanium connecting rods made & have one left if you are interested. It weighs about 35grams lighter than the stock rod. It will rev faster than anything else but costs about 2x that of a heavy duty Carrillo rod which weighs about 90 grams heavier than stock.
Tearing into the bottom end is a costly adventure even if you do the work yourself so you might as well wait until you need a stronger rod.

 

is $300 for the kit which includes stage 1 cam, 10.75:1 JE piston, and cometic gaskets a good deal?

thanks

 

Ya, its a good deal.

 

i went three years with a 60+hp 686 on the stock rod connected to a 12.5:1 Je piston and had zero trouble! I think maintainance is the key!