There is definitely a tendency for some to exaggerate the negative. If 80% of SCAT products were returned they would be out of business in a week. More likely 80% of engine builders don't know how to select and assemble a build from aftermarket parts, especially on a Cleveland.
I know people who have goods produced in China and they all tell me as long as you are clear on quality specs and tolerances and have a QA system in place then the Chinese can knock out quality. IMO it's the small guys that buy up stock out of a mass produced bin that are taking a chance.
Julian
Boss Wrench is right, good US cam grinders are reaping a benefit due to the poor quality machining of these cranks, In other words a lot of their business is fixing the cranks, but because the Chinese cannot finish their products "in this case cranks" correctly,Scat, Eagle, any volume cheap crank supplier, mass production shops are famous for good enough. you will end up having a under size journal to get the tolerances on a new crank. If you choose not to and just assemble the engine out of the box you might get lucky, In the trades luck has nothing to do with it! Check and double check and be sure.
So what are the problems?
Incorrect timing on the throws,
Journals are not dead flat across the width, leading to spun bearings or excessive clearances across the journal, in which case your hydraulic lift of your oil film keeping your parts from going metal to metal will be reduced, etc.
There is so much to this a novice does not know, it can be deceiving on a shiny new part.
Some folks on this site are tradesmen and humble as they don't push the issue to hard, and to other tradesman like myself it is obvious who they are.
Its wise to listen to these folks.
Mark
So what are the problems?
Incorrect timing on the throws,
Journals are not dead flat across the width, leading to spun bearings or excessive clearances across the journal, in which case your hydraulic lift of your oil film keeping your parts from going metal to metal will be reduced, etc.
There is so much to this a novice does not know, it can be deceiving on a shiny new part.
Some folks on this site are tradesmen and humble as they don't push the issue to hard, and to other tradesman like myself it is obvious who they are.
Its wise to listen to these folks.
Mark
Is that an Offy 360 intake manifold? What are the rest of the details on the build (cam specs, compression ratio, etc.).
Thanks,
Dan Jones
Thanks,
Dan Jones
Dan,
Correct on the offenhouser 360
This may sound a little Lame, but I honestly do not know all the specs. Engine building is weakest part of my Resto skills, so I rely on those who do know. I found a local reputable engine builder who knows ford engines. I printed 20 or so pages of comments and remarks from this forum on 351C from Cowboy, Boss, Marlin and yourself. When I told him that I wanted 500Hp, he kind of laughed, said thats easy. Showed me some program on a computer that he input a 393 stroker kit, I think the cam has a .5 inch of lift (no idea on the duration) I think he said the compression is 10.5 (maybe 11) to 1. (runs on high test and is a bitch to start with a stock starter)
He did do some head work (swirl port the chambers? again not sure)also set it up for Hydrolic roller rockers. He said the limiting factors is the intake manifold (he wanted a high rise, I said no) and exhaust which I will be removing some baffles. He also suggested I use a larger carb, I had a 650 Quickfuel but will probably change to a 750 holly. He said the engine with the current build will make 500Hp no problem, but I might have to make some of the above mentioned changes before I see that.
Either way, I took it around the block for the first time yesterday, very easy going but can already see a huge differance from a stock engine.
Correct on the offenhouser 360
This may sound a little Lame, but I honestly do not know all the specs. Engine building is weakest part of my Resto skills, so I rely on those who do know. I found a local reputable engine builder who knows ford engines. I printed 20 or so pages of comments and remarks from this forum on 351C from Cowboy, Boss, Marlin and yourself. When I told him that I wanted 500Hp, he kind of laughed, said thats easy. Showed me some program on a computer that he input a 393 stroker kit, I think the cam has a .5 inch of lift (no idea on the duration) I think he said the compression is 10.5 (maybe 11) to 1. (runs on high test and is a bitch to start with a stock starter)
He did do some head work (swirl port the chambers? again not sure)also set it up for Hydrolic roller rockers. He said the limiting factors is the intake manifold (he wanted a high rise, I said no) and exhaust which I will be removing some baffles. He also suggested I use a larger carb, I had a 650 Quickfuel but will probably change to a 750 holly. He said the engine with the current build will make 500Hp no problem, but I might have to make some of the above mentioned changes before I see that.
Either way, I took it around the block for the first time yesterday, very easy going but can already see a huge differance from a stock engine.
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