[Keithc8]

Let me tell you about a little project one of my customer had. He wanted the original 427 steel crankshaft and LeMans rods. The crankshaft was checked liked the one you speak of and the rods were crack checked and new bolts installed. Well on about the 7 pull on the dyno one of the 40 year old rods decided to break right into and it destroyed his crank and block aloong with a lot of other stuff. I hated to tell him that I told him so but I got to deliver the bad news which I had warned him about.
Some of these old parts have been around for 40 years and abused when they were used. This engine I speak of was a pump gas 525HP enginje that broke at about 5000 rpms. We had not even turned it up yet. I guess what I am trying to say, new parts are a lot better than any nused parts that you know nothing about. I do not like the Ford rod journal and I know it will work but why not put the better designed stuff in the engine to start with for performance and durability. I would not be building many FE engines if it were not for the new stuff because the old **** always gave me problems. I know that your time is worth money because mine sure is. I do not want to do this stuff over because I really loose then. You need to look at resale as well on the engine for the car and how it will affect the car.
I can sell you a stroker kit for about what you will spend on that old stuff anyway. New Eagle or Scat cast steel crankshaft that I have used to 700HP and yet to break one, Scat I-beam rods, Diamond pistons, Plasma Moly rings and bearings for 1595.00. You will spend this much on the stuff you have to get. Balancing to zero will run about 300.00. I can help you with every item that you might need. I can even build you a nice 468 or 482 Genesis sideoiler with Edelbrock heads and intake with carburetion of the dyno for about 15,000.00 that will make at least 525HP and 550 ft/lbs of torque. You might save a little going the other way but I am passing along a lot of the savings I get along to my customers. Give me a call if we can help. I also have some original parts like heads, intake, cranks, rods and such that I use on restoration engines. Good luck, Keith Craft