Regulars are... Crower through TA Molnar Moldex (Historically long lead times) It would be great if a handful of guys could get Sonny Bryant to a Buick crank.
I would look into King Cranks. They did a nice billet crank for me for my 350 and I’m super impressed. The did triple cryo treatment, and said it’s good for 2000+ HP. It only took 6 months including the R&D time. Now that they have the first one completed they can do any stroke, any pin diameter with the push of a button.
I’m not sure off hand but mines for a 350 so it wouldn’t apply to 455 builds. It’s at Chris Skalings shop, I will ask him to weigh it for us.
I would get a Velasco,Bryant,or Windberg,if you want a top caliber crank. Everything is custom-order,so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to try and make a batch of them because everyone wants different strokes,rod journals,etc. $3k-up will get you a very nice crank.
Research to see what options it has or what you can get,like hollow mains and a center counterweight,etc. Less weight is more power. Most of you know that a typical stock 455 crank is over 73lbs. My Velasco is a hair over 55lbs. That is huge when you are talking about a rotating assembly,not to mention less stress on the block. I also own a Moldex,which is decent,but there is no comparison when you compare it to a Velasco or Bryant. You get what you pay for.
Moldex takes forever. Can't speak for reliability yet but we will find out. Didn't Jeff Strube break a King billet?
Ive talked to Sonny on more than one occasion, 5 cranks minimum exactly alike and the cost would be around 5000, and thats not pennies. Our problem is we love Buicks. i saw a fb post just the other day that there are either 10,000 or 100,000 Chevy racers to one Buick racer. Im the only one in the World that stocks 455 Buick Billet cranks. They are all 4.4 strokes. The can be offset ground for a longer stroke but not shorter. The mains can be turned down to 3" from 3.250. Yes they are fully counterweighted and heavy!
Don't get too hung up on lighter is better on crankshafts ..yes it's nice not to have a heavy pig of one either ..but as one of the premier engine guys have said a "stiff " crank is the first priority for power ..then properly balanced ( center counterweight) ..then start making it light ...
If applying boost or extreme power adders as we are, I'm concerned with strength first weight second. Trust me it will spin up.... My engine in the fuel car hits 8000 rpm by the tree, 94lb crank. .93 60ft Can't wait to do it with a Buick!!!!
Haven’t had an issue. Obviously,the cranks are ordered for a specific application. Yes,some will have more material than others,etc. Otherwise,you shouldn’t be making it ordering cranks. Another downside of a cookie-cutter crank. I know when I purchased my Velasco,it was every bit of $3k. That has the added counterweight,hollow mains,and a few other bells & whistles,designed for my engine & application. A similar one now would be closer to $4k,depending on what you want. I got a Bryant a few months ago and it was that.
