So my machinest finally gets around to checking the rod bearing clearances on my Rat project. My phone rings and he says, "the clearances are coming out at .004". What do you want me to do?" We decide to get some .001 under bearings and probably mix and match to get the sizes correct.
Turns out the rod journals on the crank are below minimum as delivered.
A little more questioning and he also says they aren't very round either, and neither were the mains.

So my assumption here is that if a guy wants a real nice crank, he has to pay for it.

Makes me wonder if one should buy these cheap cranks and just grind them when they arrive.....

I won't even begin to tell the story of the Eagle crank that my brother bought for his 383....

Ron

The place that is building my 489 won't even use Eagle components anymore, They told me they had to turn several of their cranks just to be useable.

Why not just send the thing back? :confused:
Undersize and out of round wouldn't get it in my shop! :(

My guy says it will be fine, just not as nice as a more expensive crank would have been. He isn't worried about the end result, just not real tickled with the quality.

He didn't furnish the crank, I did. And the main clearances are already done, so we might as well proceed.

Ron

Ron,
We just automatically regrind them to .010 undersize. That way we know they are right !

Welcome to the world of Communist Chinese made-by-a-thirteen-year-old-as-forced-labor quality control.

:rolleyes: go back to bench racing,and take your comments with you.

My Scat cast crank checked out fine. Is it a genuine Scat or one of the other no-name cranks out there.

Hi Ron, ;)
Which crank did you get I where did it come from?
In 12 + years I have not had a problem with Scat cranks or rods that are worth bitchin about.

The only Scat crank that is finished offshore are the cast ones & the reject rate in these has been upwards of 20% at times.

All others are finish ground & profiled in house & I have found their quality control to be excellent.
Not saying some can't get through as they are people too but I haven't gotten any that were out of round more than a couple of tenths at most & I have actually gotten Callies Dragonslayers that were worse.

I have gotten them that were at or slightly below low limit which I personally don't feel is a problem. I just use the proper bearing.

I have three of the -2 4340's & one -3 4340 here now & all four do not vary a half thou total & none vary more than 3 tenths in the same crank.

I would always prefer to use an Oliver or Callies XS or Racemaster type crank but a lot of people do not want to pay the price & dollar for dollar I just don't think you can beat Scat's deal.
I have used quite a few Callies Dragonslayer cranks & can tell you that side by side you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between them & a comparable Scat.
BTW, I have personally never had to turn a Scat crank .010 to make it fit.

Hi Mike,
I got part # 4-454-4250-6385 and it came from Sallee Chevrolet in Milton Freewater here in Orygun.
At least that is Sallee's part number. And it is indeed a genuine Scat Crank.
let's see, the bearing we are using are Clevite H series I believe.
My guy is a perfectionist, and a bit of a grouch, so when anything isn't perfect, he bitches. So maybe he exagerated about the out of round. The bearing clearances I'm sure he measured right, and he just wants them perfect.
Also said these cranks have hardened surfaces, correct? That make grinding them not as desirable as it removes the hardening.
At any rate, it will all be good when done.
Ron
BTW....i'm sure Sallee would have no problem with a return, but I just don't think we need to.

Ron, I think that there are lots of seconds getting sold and not mentioned by the sellers to unsuspecting customers. I'm going to buy all my expensive parts from Mike Lewis Racing and would advise anyone here to do the same. Good quality and good prices! (See Wolfplace)

Harold,
That's what I should have done........
Ron

Very good advice. Buy from your builder. He will usually give you equal or better prices.

I happen to know for a fact that Sallee Chevrolet drop ships directly from Scat, so if seconds are being re-distributed, it is being done by Scat.

BTW, my 4340 cranks in my 383 and 496 were both superior pieces for the price.

1Hot67, Not trying to single out Sallee Chevrolet, just a general observation of industry practices that might require returning some items to the manufacturer on occasion in order to get the best quality parts available. If a big customer sends parts back then they won't get less desirable blems or seconds the next time. My son runs and programs "CNC lathes" so he is in the habit of checking everthing twice and has caught several less than desirable parts that we have purchased from time to time. Check with Reher-Morrison and see what their return rate is, it might surprise you. In the aftermarket your reputation is everything. The one crank that my son has used from Scat was a very good piece and quite resonably priced also.