Picked up my block, crank and pistons from the machine shop today. Block looks good, pistons all as they should be, but here's the reason for the post:

Mains .040 under
Rods .030 under

This is on a nodular crank out a 350 that I was planning to put into my 403. I have never run a crank ground that far, and its a real pain getting the mains and inserts locally....everyone had .030 mains and .020 inserts, but no dice on the other undersizes.

I found them on summit and rock auto, but haven't purchased them yet. Seems like a lot to me, and maybe I should use the crank from the 403 instead.

sb

 

It's not a lot.
Ask the guys who cut them down to Chevy specs.
Jim

 

After some discussion I am not as worried about strength of the crank. I guess I am just peeved because the undersizes are relatively hard to come by and I didn't get a call when they found it was worse off than we thought.

Also came to find out the (usually very good) machine shop farmed out my block and the crank, so couldn't answer any questions I had.

sb

 

Your crank grinder can get what you need.

Norm

 

So, I searched high and low, and found the bearings I was told I needed. (And what is stamped on my crank.) Only to find when I sat the crank onto the block with bearings in place, it won't rotate!

So, I pull the crank out and measure. Despite what it says on the crank, the mains are .030 under and the rod journals are .040! I guess this is a lesson. Don't listen, don't assume.

This is a machine shop I've been using for 5+ years. I've had them to machining on everything from Volvo 4 cylinders to slant sixes to sb mopars to BB mopars to chevys and now Oldsmobiles.

First time I have ever had a problem, but its costing me. I can either have my 403 crank turned to .040 mains/.030 rods OR buy a set of .030 mains and .040 rod inserts for my Nodular crank. Wonder how much responsibilty the machine shop will take for this mess? Nothing is broken, but nothing can be put together right now either.

sb

 

Oh damn so they marked it backwards. Gotta love that.
Give em hell about it in a "nice" way.

 

you would be amazed how many shops do this

 

I know of many shops that do this, but I had not had that experience with this shop in the last 5yrs. They've been good up until now.

sb

 

I plan to....they told me when I picked up the block/crank that they would be closed this week. They shut down around this time every year for vacation.

But, Monday the 26th I will be there to fix this. I still have to file and fit the rings, other than that I guess the car will have to wait until then.

sb

 

Well, machine shop apologized and is ordering the correct bearings. They'll be in Monday.

sb