Hello All, Can anyone out there give any information as to the weight of there Moldex crankshafts? Have you ever had weight removed from the crank and what did it weigh after the weight was removed? Thanks
Moldex crank (4.40) stroke, weights 90 lbs, and since it is bobbed to be internally balanced, it can get dicy removing weight from it, depending on your piston/rod weights. From Moldex, they have already done a bunch of stuff to lighten it. JW
Jim, I guess I should have given a bit more information. When I bought the engine it had Crower lightweight rods and Ultra light pistons. The engine is internally balanced and thus far the crank is at 82 lbs. The rod journals have been drilled and material has been removed from the counterweights to balance the rotating assembly. For next year we will be reducing the bob(spelling??) weight to remove additional weight off of the crankshaft. Which leads to my questioin... can I get this crank down to 70 lbs????? The stock crank weighs 70 lbs.o No: Thanks
My 4.400 was almost 89 lbs with a 2.250 pin and about 1450gr combined piston rod ring pin bearing wieght. Internally balanced with center counterwieghts . It is now about 82 lbs with 2.200 pin and slightly lighter bob . I think Bob Makely told me they or the Dehabey's were getting one lightened , don't know where they ended up ? The stock crank I ran at Norwalk this year with 2.100 pin and internally balanced was about 68lbs ,with apx 1525gr combined wieght. You can feel the stock crank motor rpm faster .
Just finished taking my motor apart for inspection..... My 4.250 Moldex is 83 lbs!!! Looks like they forgot to lighten mine at all. I know of a 4.625 stroke BB Ford billet crank recently purchased from Sonny Bryant that weighs in at 68lbs!!!!!!! Makes me believe that my Moldex is over-engineered. I think there is some accelleration speed to be gained by removing weight which will help ET.
Last weekend I was down at AM&P dropping off my engine. Charlie Evans took us by to visit the Texas Roadhouse dragster. Last year they won the championship in the Jegs Quick Series. When we arrived he was doing a quick wash of the alum. block (Ford) in order to mock up a rod and piston to grind the block for clearance. Not sure of the bore and stroke but the c.i. will be 615. Anyway, my point is, they had the Sonny Bryant crank sitting there for us to check out. OMG, what a piece of art. It was gun drilled all the way though the center for a 4 lb savings. You have to run a plug in the rear. This crank wieghed 63 lbs. This thing made the Moldex crank look like a junk yard piece. It's the same crank that Warren Johnson uses and the worst/best thing is the price, $2600. Just thought I would share this for what it's worth. P.S. Last year they went a 7.01 @ 195 with an iron Ford around 540 ci. Next year the want the 6's.
Shayne, Thanks for this bit of information. I tend to wonder how much ET gain there would be when going from an 82 lb crankshaft to a 63 lb shaft. Mine will be headed out soon to have some of this work done. I will let you know how it turns out. All I can say for now is that I am reducing the weight of the connecting rods by a 3rd. The pistons are going to be lightened and if they gun drill my crankshaft is it possible to see my crankshaft at 72 lbs??? I will say that I am somewhat nervous about having this done to my crankshaft simply because I have never done this modification before. But I have been assured that it will not only let the engine accelerate faster but it will also reduce the stresses on the block. I guess this is not in the category of "monkey see, monkey do" Thanks Again
John, I wouldn't worry about the gun drilling part personally. It is pretty much common knowledge with the stock car boys here that it a better deal. The guys here with the grand national rears have gun drilled axils and they are stronger than the solids. Don't know how or why but ????? Granted thats dirt racing and an axil and not a crank, but I wouldnt think they'de do it if it was a bad idea ya know ? Wish I had some personal experience to share with ya but I don't........sorry. later............................
John I think you and Geof talked already but I thought I would throw this up here anyway. We have two 4.500 stroke moldex cranks both have 2.200 rods on them the one we just had done is not gun drilled and it came in at 78 pounds. Thats down from like 96 I think it might have been 94 I don't remember. the other one weighs in at 80 even. Once we have the mains turned down to fit the new block they should come in quit a bit liter than that.
