Forged steel crankshaft

[Fiero Brick]

I was looking around on Pennock's Fiero Forum earlier today and guess what I found somebody posting about:

http://www.jbodyperformance.com/new/PartDetails.php?partId=412&catId=412&catName=JP0412

Now... that's the correct stroke for the 3.1/3.4/3.4TDC. Will it work? Souldn't it?

If I'm missing anything obvious that won't allow this to work in the LQ1, I'm using my fever as a cop out. If I'm not missing anything, I'm really excited. Not that I have any need of such a crank. Yet.

[Fierobsessed]

ALL 3.1's and ALL 3.4's use the same crank. afaik, So yes! it will work.

The crank supposedly is a cut down 3500 crank. witch STOCK is forged. It has huge 2.25" crank pins and a set of reluctor rings all of witch get knocked off, and machined for the proper reluctor, and the crank pins get cut down to match the size we are used to.

[Joseph Upson]

Given that the stock pistons seem to be the weakest link on the rotating assembly I believe the investment is better placed in the pistons since I've yet to hear of a crank failure from power overload. Unless of course a high reving high output engine is what you plan to build.

As for machining the crank for the 7x pattern, I just received an email from the machinist I'm working with stating that my press on 7x reluctor ring for the new design crank should be ready for pickup and trial fit this weekend.

I believe it would be better to leave the crank as is and relieve the block to clear the big end of the rod, install the 7x ring and sensor spacer, and take advantage of the larger crank pins and longer rods which should be able to handle a much greater load since in the Fiero community anyway the rod bearings are usually what fail in the majority of the V6s. You would have a stronger engine with the unmodified version of the crank and forged pistons than the other way around for probably a bit more than half the price of the machined crank alone.

Just my opinion though. I like the idea, and for those who don't know the cast iron version of the new crank is packing a pretty good bit of additional weight over the previous version, I suspect the steel version is even more so.

Oh yeah! only certain sport utility versions of the 3500 get the steel crank.

[Fierobsessed]

Terraza got the steel crank...

[fatman85]

what year did this forged crank get intoduced. and what is the part # if anyone knows. thanks
..............
Jason Merkl

[Fierobsessed]

2004 and...
12577484

Don't know the part # on the steel crank yet...

[Nightingale]

anyone have a rough cost on the machine work to a forged 3.5L crank to fit into dohc and gen 2/3 blocks and retain stock rods? I already have forged pistons so another set of customs is pretty much out of the question.