<VV> Pile -o- Crankshafts

[Tony Underwood]

At 08:12 hours 10/11/2004 -0400, you wrote: 
>
> The nitriding does a LOT more than just harden the surface. It also toughens
> the hell out of the skin of the crank, making it FAR harder fro cracks to
> start and propagate. 




But it does little for the over-all strength of the crankshaft itself.   


It's worth mentioning that the only two crankshafts I ever saw break in
Corvair
engines were both 140hp cranks, both nitrided.    Both had good harmonic
balancers (I still have one of those balancers, rescued from the broke
engine).   Now, I'm not saying that nitriding isn't worth while... I'm just
saying that I'd not be afraid of any crank because it was NOT nitrided.    
That was my original point.   The guy in question could use a std
crankshaft in
his 140 and it will be fine.   


tony..