Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Who on the West Coast, does off set crank pin grinding? The West Coast, because of shipping charges.

My local guy, will only commit to doing .010, off center. He won't do more, because it tears up his grinding wheels.

I don't need much, at this time, only .040/.050 but, if I ever come up with a Merc crank, I like to do a full .065

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

John Specialty Service

1002 102nd St E, Tacoma, WA 98445
(253) 396-1814

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Thank you, Will

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Mulder's Auto Machine Shop Boise, Idaho (208) 344-9011

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

40 Deluxe, thank you, also.

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

You could give Tim a call at Hanford Auto Supply, He might

Hanford, California 93230-4650
yblockguy.com

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

I do plan to talk to Tim. I got a private message regarding him and his Face Book page and I looked at it.

A very impressive man!

But, I will talk to all three. Again thank you all.

Frank

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Update:
John Specialty Service, no longer off set grinds cranks, since the owner retired. They are still in business though.

I talked to Tim, a very nice guy. Price is reasonable and I may, very well go with him, if nothing else but, just to have more conversations :)

Mulders, has answered his phone today but, I will keep trying.

Frank

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

I just talked to Mulder and he is still doing it.

He doesn't have a set price and quotes $200 minimum and says that $300 is about maximum, depending on how much time it takes him.

Frank

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Another up date on off set crank grinding.

Today, I found a guy in Redding, CA, only 160 miles from me, that both knows flat heads and does off set crank grinding. He has been in the business for 50+ years and has built 21 stud engines.

He doesn't have a web page and is simi retired. He works 3 day a week but, can give very fast turn a round times, if required.

His prices are also, in the $200 range.

Contact Information:

L & M Grinding
1301 E Cypress Ave
Redding, CA 96002

Contact: Mario Frugugliette
Phone: (530) 221-7652

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Just curious, So in doing this grinding do they weld additional material on then offset grind it to use the same size bearing? Or do they offset grind it and then use a smaller bearing?

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

It depends on the crankshaft, desired stroke, process used, etc.. The most typical example in our Flathead world is taking a late Mercury 4" stroke crankshaft - which has 2.138 journals and offset grinding the journals down to a 1.999 1939-1941 221 cubic inch flathead size. By doing an offset grind, you can increase the stroke to 4.125" - then you used the 39-41 91A/21A rods and the smaller 1.999 full-floating bearings and you were good to go.

This was how guys created the standard "full-race" flathead --- with a 3 3/8 bore (3/16 oversize) and a 4 1/8 stroke crankshaft, you now turned a 239 flathead into a 296 cubic inch flathead.

Now - outside of this example, there were a lot of custom crankshaft shops in the 50's/60's that would weld up a regular crankshaft (to essentially move the journal further out), then offset grind the welded up journal, to achieve a big stroke. Shops like "Reath Automotive" in Long Beach would weld and offset grind all sorts of different cranks to increase the displacement of many different engines. A great example is the Early Chrysler Hemi - they'd take a 392 cubic inch engine and stroke it to 450 or so cubic inches (all due to creating "welded strokers").

In our modern world, we have custom billet crankshaft shops that basically carve you out the crankshaft you need, with the journals/rods you want to run and can make dang near anything (that fits in the specific engine package). You just don't see that many "welded strokers" these days. Of course these custom billet cranks have a long lead time to produce and have a very high price tag. $2500 on the low end . . .

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Yes Mario is awsome. He worked in a shop near me that did sprint car motors until he moved to Redding and opened his own shop you won’t be disappointed.

Dodge

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Like me, he doesn't think that welding a cast crank is a good thing, at all.

It should only be done on forged cranks and my felling on that, is if done and long term reliability is expected, the whole crank should be re-heat treated. If you re-heat treat, you also need to know the parent material or the heat treat company won't be able to do it.

Since I was a mechanic, in the 60's, we talked about some of the common things done in those days, like welding journals. It was extremely common and he use to have a crankshaft welder that he sold a few year ago.

The other common thing that was done, was grinding both main and rod journals, in the block, with the pan off.

As a racer and a aircraft machinist, Mario impressed me, very much.

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

I just added this thread to the new product thread.

My research only involves the West Coast area. Could others add Mid West and East Coast crank grinders, that can do off set grinding, if they have that info so it covers all of the US?

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Problem with welding up a crank is that you weld up as much on the side you don´t want any extra material on or the crank will warp.
Then you have to straighten it and grind off a lot of material...not a fun task !
I used to have an old gleeson but it was retired when i moved my shop from town out to the homestead.
Mostly big diesels with spun bearings we did in it...and not many strokers.

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

B&S
I bought a welded stroker from C&T automotive back in the 60s for around 300 bucks. This was for a 312 "T" block. It included, Pistons and rings, rods bored for 29a floaters, and bearings. It was one of the most impressive engines I ever built. I only had two engines that would light the tires while cruising at 60 or so. This one and a 392 Hemi I had in a 47 Plymouth. Memories are sometimes all we have.

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

I've got an old CT 4 1/2" stroker crank for the flathead.

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

Here is an excellent drawing that explains it. I cannot get it to post right side up. Sorry.

Re: Off Set Crank Grinding
 

That’s a lot of stroke!
Are special rods needed to clear the base of the cylinders?

It would be easy to pass the 300 cubic inch mark with that one!