I took the crankshaft out of the junk 425 I tore down to the machine shop to see if it could be machined and cleaned up where it threw the rod and damaged the rod journal. They said it would clean up fine, and at the same time told me that it is a steel crank. Do all 401-425 engines have a steel crank as opposed to a cast crank? If so, that is a new piece of info. I was not aware of.
Like a Bell Brian, Forged cranks will ring like a bell if tapped lightly with a hammer. Cast cranks will have a dull thud, and that will be about it. All the Nailhead cranks I have ring like the liberty bell. That is part of the reason most people worry far less about the Nailhead bottom end compared to the 400/430/455. Cheryl
Re: Like a Bell It has to do more with the fact that the 401/425 block is a "Y" block and has alot more strength in the web area than the 455 blocks. I always found it strange that Buick always semed to use a "Y" block configuration until the introduction of the 400/430/455. Even the V-6's remained "Y"blocks all the way through. Jim Burek P.A.E. ENTERRPISES
Jim - Have you ever offset ground a 425" crank? Ever use SBC rods (or anything else) in a Nailhead? Thanks.:Comp:
