Engine Mods Outrageous Builds, High-Horsepower Modifications, strokers, and big cams for the Corvette

Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 27, 2003 | 10:04 PM
  #1  
scorp508's Avatar
scorp508
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Default Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :)

We're picking up a 454 Mark IV 4-bolt block for my father's 67 vert project on Saturday that we found from the tip of a friend. Anyways... the stats on it as of right now are that the bore is 4.290" and the forged crank is turned 0.030" on the rod journals and 0.020" on the main journals.

I honestly don't know what my dad plans on making for power, but if I were to guess I'd put it in the 475-525hp range. Anyways, what are your thoughts on using that crank? Good? Bad? Indifferent? From talking to dad he seems to think it will be fine as long as he doesn't try to turn it into a top fuel car. :)

Are there any unwritten rules or guidelines as to how far you should take these cranks before special considerations need to be made?

Thanks. :seeya
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2003 | 10:13 PM
  #2  
clem zahrobsky's Avatar
clem zahrobsky
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (scorp508)

with any used crank get it magnafluxed. is it forged or cast crank? if the proper radius were ground in the corners and it passed mag it should be fine. :chevy
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2003 | 10:16 PM
  #3  
scorp508's Avatar
scorp508
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Default

is it forged or cast crank?
See above, forged. :)
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2003 | 11:16 PM
  #4  
rob75383's Avatar
rob75383
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (scorp508)

Sorry, I might be using the wrong terms for the areas that I'm referring to.

By "turned" do you mean that they reduced the journal's diameter??
Wouldn't this mean that you have to use shimmed bearings or something??

Wouldn't the crank journals have to be heat treated after the turning to re-harden the surfaces?

Is there any way to verify that the crank was indeed re-heat treated after the machining?

Just my $.02
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2003 | 08:28 AM
  #5  
GregP's Avatar
GregP
Drifting
Supporting Member
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 36
From: Annapolis MD
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (scorp508)

Check out WHY it was turned. I had one motor that badly spun the bearings. The crank was turned .010 under and mag checked. It looked beautiful after the work, nice polish, radiused oil holes and journals, the works.

It still broke in 2 after only 10 hours of running (although I will admit 10 hours in my boat is much harder than your car). 0.030 under is a LOT in my book for a BB crank (and is much deeper than the factory nitriding would have gone.

If it was me I'd juet get a new crank, much cheaper than building the motor a second time. Last GM crank I bought it took checking 6 before we found one that was usable. They were really getting to the bottom of the supply for Mark IV cranks. I'd just buy a good new forged aftermarket one.

$0.02

-Greg

Reply
Old Mar 28, 2003 | 09:27 AM
  #6  
clem zahrobsky's Avatar
clem zahrobsky
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: (scorp508)

sorry about that i guess i did not read close enought,but if it passes magnaflux it will work. if it shows cracks toss it. a quick check for a cracked crank is to hit it with a hammer and if it does not have a crack you shoild give of a sharp "ring". i have found this works when checking used cranks before sending of for magnaflux. i have ground brand new cranks to 10-10 to get the indexing corrected because production cranks can be off. these cranks were used in engines that produced 800 HP supercharged and run in 110 MPH boats.:chevy


[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 12:33 PM 3/28/2003]
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2003 | 08:40 PM
  #7  
CFI-EFI's Avatar
CFI-EFI
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (scorp508)

I agree with your Dad. Of course, as advised above, have it chaecked out. You would do that with any crank you were reinstalling upon rebuild, previously reground, or not. I don't believe that Chevrolet ever produced any cast, MarkIV cranks. Good luck, and...

RACE ON!!!
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2003 | 09:34 PM
  #8  
clem zahrobsky's Avatar
clem zahrobsky
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
Likes: 1
From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (CFI-EFI)

all 454 PU trucks and pass cars were cast cranks :chevy
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Mar 28, 2003 | 09:56 PM
  #9  
CFI-EFI's Avatar
CFI-EFI
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (clem zahrobsky)

Well, I'll be a son of a female dog! Thanks!

RACE ON!!!
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2003 | 02:14 AM
  #10  
sinistervette's Avatar
sinistervette
Pro
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: the corner of walk and dont walk
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (clem zahrobsky)

all 454 PU trucks and pass cars were cast cranks :chevy
Not all 454 cranks are cast. I've got several 454 forged steel cranks, casting #3521 is from a 1970 LS-6, #3963524 is from a 1971 chevy truck, #3967463 1 is from a 1976 wagon and 1 is from a 81 1ton, #7416 is from a 1987 1 ton. The bb cranks are just like the small blocks as far as telling cast from forged, the "parting line" visible in the throws and rear flange(for flywheel) is thin(1/4 wide or less) and pointy on all cast cranks and is wide(3/8"-1/2") and flat on all forged cranks. :cheers:
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2003 | 07:08 AM
  #11  
Allthrottleandsomebottle's Avatar
Allthrottleandsomebottle
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,935
Likes: 26
From: Lackey, my own dragstrip VA.
Virginia Events Coordinator
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
NCM Ambassador
Default Re: Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :) (scorp508)

My rule of thumb on the purchase and reuse of a sat NDT'd crank, cast or forged is:
How much are you saving?( Oversizes rod & main bearings cost & clearance issue?)
Machining concentricity and TC better be right on.
Was it balanced?
Why was in turned?(I would not by a shock loaded crank, .030 is a lot!)
.010-.020 is the norm for turning
How much is a similar crank new and if you use this one....if it breaks how much $$$ will you destroy?

:cheers:
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Turned BBC cranks, teach me. :)





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:36 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE