IronJen
Formerly known as VegasJen
Hey guys. I'm trying to get stuff together so I can make some progress on my resto-mod. To that end, I'm finally shopping for the crank for my 5.7 4-bolt block. Now, I'm guesstimating here (and it is a wild ass guess) that my build is going to make right around 400 crankshaft horsepower. I think I would trust a cast crank up to 300, maybe 350, but much beyond that and "cast, cast, cast" would always be in the back of my mind any time I stabbed the gas pedal.
So I'm looking for a steel crank. Given this is a one-piece rear main "roller" motor, I've been looking at the ZZ4 crankshaft. I'm certain that would handle what I'm going to make. I've considered others like Eagle and Scat but I just won't chance putting Chinesium in my engine. I know a lot of people have had good success with those products, and I know they come with a warranty. But the warranty only replaces the crank, doesn't do anything for all the other damage a failed crank will cause. Then there is the whole separate issue of China. I'd rather not turn this thread political so we'll just say I avoid investing in Chinese products to the best of my ability.
Now, having said all that, I'm operating under the assumption the ZZ4 crank would be a North American product.
But wait, there's more! I have a call in to a local machine shop and he thinks he has a "steel" crank of unknown origin that is a one piece rear main. However, he avoided using the word "forged" when I asked about the crank. So, is there such a thing as a steel crank that is not forged? If so, how will I know? Also, where would such a steel crank fall in comparison to cast and forged from a durability metric?
He is supposed to call me back and let me know once he finds this crank. But he was supposed to do that months ago the first time I talked to him too. Hopefully he actually follows through this time and I can go check it out. If it's a good price and not Chinesium, I have no problem putting a reconditioned crank in this engine.
So I'm looking for a steel crank. Given this is a one-piece rear main "roller" motor, I've been looking at the ZZ4 crankshaft. I'm certain that would handle what I'm going to make. I've considered others like Eagle and Scat but I just won't chance putting Chinesium in my engine. I know a lot of people have had good success with those products, and I know they come with a warranty. But the warranty only replaces the crank, doesn't do anything for all the other damage a failed crank will cause. Then there is the whole separate issue of China. I'd rather not turn this thread political so we'll just say I avoid investing in Chinese products to the best of my ability.
Now, having said all that, I'm operating under the assumption the ZZ4 crank would be a North American product.
But wait, there's more! I have a call in to a local machine shop and he thinks he has a "steel" crank of unknown origin that is a one piece rear main. However, he avoided using the word "forged" when I asked about the crank. So, is there such a thing as a steel crank that is not forged? If so, how will I know? Also, where would such a steel crank fall in comparison to cast and forged from a durability metric?
He is supposed to call me back and let me know once he finds this crank. But he was supposed to do that months ago the first time I talked to him too. Hopefully he actually follows through this time and I can go check it out. If it's a good price and not Chinesium, I have no problem putting a reconditioned crank in this engine.
