Lightweight Crank vs. Cast

Tgreen3724 · 12-19-2011, 03:04 PM

What do you guys think the potential HP gains are for a lightweight vs. cast crank in a BBC? Just trying to get my monies worth this winter

Alan Roehrich · 12-19-2011, 08:42 PM

I know guys going fast with cast cranks, but most, if not all of them, replace those things regularly (some as often as every 50 passes). I suppose that's okay if you have money and can afford the risks. Not something I'd suggest if you're trying to mind your budget, I advise my customers against it.

tj310 · 12-19-2011, 11:10 PM

Alan's right, I believe a stock cast BBC crank is lighter than a stock forged crank. Lightweight aftermarket cranks are not legal in stock or SS. --- Trevor

Adger Smith · 12-20-2011, 01:02 AM

The lightweght vs heavy is something I have worked with many of my circle track customers. There is no HP there in steady state or controled rate dyno tests. All you get is better acceleration rate.
Ouicker under load. In a drag car that is the initial pull off the line and at each gear change it accelerates quicker. Liteweight rotating mass is quicker down the track, no more HP. Use the cast crank in your stocker r SS. As noted in previous posts aftermarket cranks are not legal in S/SS.

Ryan_Haag · 12-20-2011, 03:28 AM

A cast crank is around 10 lbs. lighter than a steel crank, but a cast crank may get 50 runs. Cast cranks on the other hand don't break in half, they just start cracking and slow down about a tenth each pass. Been then done that! By then time you invest money into an old cast or steel crank, spend the extra money and buy an aftermarket Callies crank. Lighter, better, and faster. If you use the lightest one, its around a tenth on the track just to acceleration. Just my two cents.

Ryan_Haag · 12-20-2011, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tj310

Alan's right, I believe a stock cast BBC crank is lighter than a stock forged crank. Lightweight aftermarket cranks are not legal in stock or SS. --- Trevor

Aftermarket are allowed in super stock.

Tgreen3724 · 12-20-2011, 09:11 AM

Thanks to all the input.

eddie c · 12-20-2011, 01:24 PM

Correct me if I am wrong, I remember quite a few years back that
Lunatti sold a crank that I think was legal in Stock. Now possibly they
were using a stock crank and massaging it to get a little more power,
does anyone recall this? ed

Alan Roehrich · 12-20-2011, 02:02 PM

Lunati once specialized in Stock and Super Stock cranks and cams. Yes, they had a line of "race prepped" OEM forgings and castings.

There are some former Lunati people at Bullet doing crankshaft work, they offer the same services once offered by Lunati.

Woodro Josey · 12-21-2011, 03:42 PM

I have used Bullet cams and i send my Cranks to them,those guys do a great job and Alan is right, some of the Lunati Crank guys are at Bullet!

12-19-2011, 03:04 PM	#1
Tgreen3724 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Shepherdsville, Ky Posts: 38 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Lightweight Crank vs. Cast What do you guys think the potential HP gains are for a lightweight vs. cast crank in a BBC? Just trying to get my monies worth this winter

12-19-2011, 08:42 PM	#2
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,916 Likes: 997 Liked 1,046 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast I know guys going fast with cast cranks, but most, if not all of them, replace those things regularly (some as often as every 50 passes). I suppose that's okay if you have money and can afford the risks. Not something I'd suggest if you're trying to mind your budget, I advise my customers against it. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

12-19-2011, 11:10 PM	#3
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast Alan's right, I believe a stock cast BBC crank is lighter than a stock forged crank. Lightweight aftermarket cranks are not legal in stock or SS. --- Trevor

12-20-2011, 01:02 AM	#4
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,349 Likes: 435 Liked 678 Times in 262 Posts	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast The lightweght vs heavy is something I have worked with many of my circle track customers. There is no HP there in steady state or controled rate dyno tests. All you get is better acceleration rate. Ouicker under load. In a drag car that is the initial pull off the line and at each gear change it accelerates quicker. Liteweight rotating mass is quicker down the track, no more HP. Use the cast crank in your stocker r SS. As noted in previous posts aftermarket cranks are not legal in S/SS. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS) Last edited by Adger Smith; 12-20-2011 at 01:06 AM. Reason: sp

12-20-2011, 03:28 AM	#5
Ryan_Haag Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seymour, IN Posts: 108 Likes: 8 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast A cast crank is around 10 lbs. lighter than a steel crank, but a cast crank may get 50 runs. Cast cranks on the other hand don't break in half, they just start cracking and slow down about a tenth each pass. Been then done that! By then time you invest money into an old cast or steel crank, spend the extra money and buy an aftermarket Callies crank. Lighter, better, and faster. If you use the lightest one, its around a tenth on the track just to acceleration. Just my two cents. __________________ Ryan Haag SS/EA 3750 E/SA 3750

12-20-2011, 09:11 AM	#7
Tgreen3724 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Shepherdsville, Ky Posts: 38 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast Thanks to all the input.

12-20-2011, 01:24 PM	#8
eddie c Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southeastern Pa. Posts: 53 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast Correct me if I am wrong, I remember quite a few years back that Lunatti sold a crank that I think was legal in Stock. Now possibly they were using a stock crank and massaging it to get a little more power, does anyone recall this? ed

12-20-2011, 02:02 PM	#9
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,916 Likes: 997 Liked 1,046 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast Lunati once specialized in Stock and Super Stock cranks and cams. Yes, they had a line of "race prepped" OEM forgings and castings. There are some former Lunati people at Bullet doing crankshaft work, they offer the same services once offered by Lunati. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

12-21-2011, 03:42 PM	#10
Woodro Josey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 805 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Lightweight Crank vs. Cast I have used Bullet cams and i send my Cranks to them,those guys do a great job and Alan is right, some of the Lunati Crank guys are at Bullet! __________________ Woodro Josey 2002 STK