[DeTomaso] Crank Lightening

[Charles Engles]

Dear Tony,


              You wrote:

>I don't know much about Crank Lightening.  Anybody care to share
> generalities and Cleveland specifics?



            What little I know:

            Crank Lightening, just a bit:  This is pretty easy, although it 
does take a bit of time with a grinder to remove flashing, rough spots and 
gently contour and polish the Cleveland crank.    The end product is better 
looking than a stock crank and is a bit lighter.   The modest lightening 
still permits balancing without extreme measures.

            Crank Lightening, just medium:   This is harder.   It takes more 
grinder work and begins to get into diminishing returns as the balancing 
task can become more problematic.

            Crank Lightening, major:  This is a level where the balancing 
can become very difficult and the crank integrity may be questionable. 
Also, this degree of lightening would only be justified if the crank was 
complimented with very lightweight connecting rods and pistons, which tend 
to be very expensive......

            Knife edge:  controversial and of uncertain or proven benefits 
in our application.   Interesting, though.

            After said grinding, I think you would want to have the crank 
nitride treated as the grinding will remove that original layer from the 
factory.

            I have a crank in the Lightened, just a bit category.   I 
haven't weighed it.   I also have some stock cranks.   I really should get 
the precision bathroom scales and see just what I've got.   Remind me and 
I'll try to get that research project done this week.


                       The Lazy Engine Researcher,  Chuck Engles