Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Rant on.

For those who followed my postings about my missing crankshaft, not all is well. I picked it up, along with my 1.6L crank a couple months ago & continued collecting parts for the stroker build. This week I decided that I had enough parts to at least start assembling the lower end, only having the piston rings on backorder.

Cleaned the parts, including the galleys, painted the block, chased all the threads so it was time to start assembling. I installed the main bearings into the block & dropped the crank in so I could check bearing clearances before installing the rear seal. Hmm, something doesn't look right. There seems to be gaps between the main journals & the bearings. Lifted the crank out & measured the journals & they are not the standard size they were before I sent the crank to the machine shop eons ago! Actually, they are 0.118" undersize, the same as a standard 3 main crank! I pulled the old bearings out of the 2L block that I got the crank from & they are standard size. It appears that for some reason the machine shop cut the mains to match an early block! All they were supposed to do was polish the crank & cut the nose off it. Tuesday I'll take the crank back to them to see what they say. Getting quality work done didn't used to be this tough!

Rant off.

Depending on what comes of my visit I will either need to get another 2L crank & have it machined, go with a H20 crank, just put it back stock with the 1.6L crank, rods & pistons or I'll have to find someone to bail me out of jail. I was really looking forward to at least going for a ride this summer!

Peace,
Pat

Not the surprise you want to find. Can you even get oversized bearings for that?

I have a crank, but I am across the country

Kai,

Oversized bearings are available up to 0.040 over I think. Even if there were bearings available cutting it that far gets it far past the hardening that all cranks get.

Peace,
Pat

Kai,

Thanks for the crank offer, I’ll keep it in mind if they decide they want to buy it for me. If I need to foot the bill I am leaning towards a new aftermarket H20 crank that I can get locally for under $700.

Peace,
Pat

Habitat.pat wrote: Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:59 pm [snip] If I need to foot the bill, I am leaning towards a new aftermarket H20 crank that I can get locally for under $700.

Seriously? I thought those were unobtainum.

Habitat.pat wrote: Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:55 pm Kai,

Oversized bearings are available up to 0.040 over I think. Even if there were bearings available cutting it that far gets it far past the hardening that all cranks get.

Peace,
Pat

Do you know what method was used to harden the crank in the first place? I understand that different methods create different depths of hardening. You're at 10-20 under now? That's not very deep a cut from what I've read depending upon the method of hardness used. Or, alternarively, would it be more economical to have it retreated?

I found this... Most stock OEM steel crankshafts have been induction hardened. This is a low cost process in which the surface is heated by a high frequency alternating magnetic field that generates heat in the crank's surface quickly before being quenched. The depth of this hardening process is around .060 - .080. Because of uneven heating and cooling, this crankshaft hardening process creates stress within the crankshaft. While it is an ideal hardening process for stock applications, it is less then favorable for high performance racing applications.

Greg, the crank is now 118 under, even if I could regarded it, no bearings are available.

Peace,
Pat

Pete, there are at least a couple available. I’ll say where once I know if I need one

Peace,
Pat

Habitat.pat wrote: Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:54 am Greg, the crank is now 118 under, even if I could regarded it, no bearings are available.

Peace,
Pat

Ohhhh, woops... nails be a'flying... man that sucks. Your initial post said it was hard to find good machine shops anymore, and that is the truth. I was extremely fortunate to find one near me that cared about my project and had the skills to do custom work. And they got it done in a timely manner at a reasonable price. I've watched my friend and follow member here Pat wait for months (over a year?) for work to be done in the Seattle area. The shops are busy, they know they are becoming the only game in town, and you are at their mercy. I hope this works out for you... I'd be extremely irritated, especially since it was so unnecessary.

Think I'll see if I can post something nice on the net for my local shop... they deserve it.

ppeters914 wrote: Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:07 pm

Habitat.pat wrote: Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:59 pm [snip] If I need to foot the bill, I am leaning towards a new aftermarket H20 crank that I can get locally for under $700.

Seriously? I thought those were unobtainum.

Brian has them new here:

https://sincitydatsuns.com/store/p246/N ... shaft.html

Pat...
Shoot, sorry to hear about that.

I have a couple of U20 cranks that may work for you if needed.

I pm'd you, so just let me know if I can help.

Thanks
PM

All is well with my crank fiasco! I took it Back to the shop & they couldn’t figure out why it got machined but he wrote out a check for $675, the cost of a H20 crank from Sin City Datsuns! I swung by Sun City this evening & picked it up, so tomorrow I hope to get it installed. I asked Brian how many more he has & he said one or possibly 2. He is keeping one for himself. He is in the process of preparing to move so he wasn’t able to verify if there is another one or not.

Peace,
Pat

Well good... at least they took action to rectify their mistake and made it right!

Habitat.pat wrote: Wed Jul 06, 2022 11:19 pm All is well with my crank fiasco! I took it Back to the shop & they couldn’t figure out why it got machined but he wrote out a check for $675, the cost of a H20 crank from Sin City Datsuns! I swung by Sun City this evening & picked it up, so tomorrow I hope to get it installed. I asked Brian how many more he has & he said one or possibly 2. He is keeping one for himself. He is in the process of preparing to move so he wasn’t able to verify if there is another one or not.

Peace,
Pat

Great news! Sounds like it worked out as well as it possibly could have.

The install will be a milestone! Godspeed.
pm