So Who makes a good Crank?

sinistervw · Post by **sinistervw** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 8:57 pm

Well im looking for a good manufacture of a good 82mm Counter weighted forged crank...and i was wondering what ya all thought...im most likly going to go with a crank from aircooled.net or something!

Matt Harris · Post by **Matt Harris** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 10:50 pm

My engine is apart right now, and my 78 Berg crank looks awfully nice. I forgot how nice it was.

But 82 stroke, I would go with a CB Performance crank @ $429. Just be sure that you mike the piss out of it, or better yet, send it to a competent VW machine shop (Demello or Rimco or Castillo's) to have checked out.

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Matt Harris
78 x 90.5
2007cc
1971 Super

evil_vw · Post by **evil_vw** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 11:21 pm

i hear anything from Bernie Bergmann or GEX is of the highest quality, and the perfect choice for hot street and drag racing applications. Gene Berg has nothing on these top quality cranks, as they are second to none in the aftermarket performance industry. (there- ya think they'll like that? its all BS, but its what they want to hear, right?) and btw, "sinister", quit bein such a kiss-ass-- "im goin with somethin from air-cooled.net". im sure John is very impressed with your comment. do you have any idea how many Carls Jr. paychecks its gonna take to buy a good crank?

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"OK, got the duct tape, JB weld, bailing wire, and a big hammer- everything should be fine."

[This message has been edited by evil_vw (edited 06-11-2002).]

evil_vw · Post by **evil_vw** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 11:26 pm

i just love pickin on that dude.

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"OK, got the duct tape, JB weld, bailing wire, and a big hammer- everything should be fine."

Lloyd McClelland · Post by **Lloyd McClelland** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 7:37 pm

So not counting Berg and Demello that Air cooled net doesn't sell. Anybody compaired the 82 forged cranks quality between Bugpack, Scat and CB irregardless of the couple of hundred $ difference ? Lloyd

sinistervw · Post by **sinistervw** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 8:15 pm

hey evil...i forgot to telly uo i dont work at Carls Jr anymore...i now work For Roseville Parks and Rec. im 1/4 the way money wise to build my 64! oh yeah evil...by the way, what crawled up ur butt and died?

superdrag73 · Post by **superdrag73** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 9:57 pm

I like Demmelo for quality vs. price.

Milt Damnit · Post by **Milt Damnit** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 10:10 pm

i use a DPR welded 78 and have had great luck with it in the last 3 years. i sell them at the shop and have built many motors with them from 74mm to 84mm.. with no problem

Tom Simon · Post by **Tom Simon** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 5:40 am

Their are a couple of "schools of thought" when it comes to VW cranks. One camp says that a forged VW crank that has been built up with weld and has counter weights welded to it, has been stress relieved, eight doweled, balanced and nitrided is a good, cost effective way to go. They are not pretty, but after it's inside, no one looks at it anyway. I think you can even get a type IV centermain from Demello. Sounds real afordable, and strong enough for most street cars. Usually the folks that build these (Demello and one other company that I can't remember right now) tell you to stay under 82 stroke. Their are a lot of people that have run this combination in higher HP applications with good success. I never personally have, but I trust the folks have told me this.

Bugpack cranks look real good, CB has a good reputation. Scat makes a good product, I have a flanged super-lite, and another one on order right now. I own and have used an 86 and 78 Berg wedgemated cranks, top quality stuff. Beautyful works of art! Berg would tell you that every one elses crank flexes (but theirs) so add deck if you are not running a Berg crank. I'm not so sure that is entirely accurate, as they all flex some. In fact, someone theorized that welded strokers live in high HP applications because they flex more before they break! Racers have been breaking Scat cranks for years, but then again most of use could break a crow bar in a sandbox. That doesn't make it a bad product. One thing for sure is to stay away from a cast iron crank in a performance application, unless you keep it below 6k rpm. Another tip: stay away from any used crank unless you know what you are buying. Have an agreement with the seller that you can have a third party crank shop inspect it, and get a refund if it doesn't pass the magnaflux test, or is way undersize. Quality cost money, there is no way around it. There are a few compromises one can make, to save some money.

sinistervw · Post by **sinistervw** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 6:54 pm

how much would a 82mm berg crank thats wedgmated to a full weight fly wheel (fly wheel all ready purchased)? so who all sells cranks that i can get T-4 mains, and can i keep it stock t-1 rod journals?

Eaallred · Post by **Eaallred** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 7:49 pm

I've been very happy with my Forged Scat 82mm stroker (From AC.Net). After about 11000 miles, I tore my engine down to swap heads and cam, and the crank looks fantastic. The bearing saddles are fine, can run my fingernail across them without 'catching', and that was with numerous 7500rpm shift points.

I do wonder if I'll need to step up to a flanged crank this year though. I'll be well over the 200hp mark (A reliable source estimates we'll be close to 260), so I'm wondering if I should flange it now, and make a 1995cc (88x82) stroker for my bus, or just wait for something to 'let go'.

I guess I'll wait and see how anxious I am to get the friggin thing running.

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Eric
64 Bug
64 Bus

sinistervw · Post by **sinistervw** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 8:01 pm

with my bug i will never push it over 7000rpm's...rev limiter will be set at 7k

britegreenVWSB · Post by **britegreenVWSB** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 9:13 pm

I don't think the Berg's will wedgemate a flywheel to one of their cranks if it wasn't purchased from them. If your f.w. is NOT 8-dowelled they might, but if it is, forget it. When you are ready to purchase, call them and inquire about this. An 82mm Berg crank wedgemated to one of their f.w.'s is (are you sitting down?) about $1300. I've heard from reliable drag racers that the best VW aftermarket crank on the planet is a Moldex from Autocraft, but these cranks are about $1600! OUCH!! In these two cases, however, I really believe "you get what you pay for."

TG

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 9:39 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Eaallred:
<B>I've been very happy with my Forged Scat 82mm stroker (From AC.Net). After about 11000 miles, I tore my engine down to swap heads and cam, and the crank looks fantastic. The bearing saddles are fine, can run my fingernail across them without 'catching', and that was with numerous 7500rpm shift points.

I do wonder if I'll need to step up to a flanged crank this year though. I'll be well over the 200hp mark (A reliable source estimates we'll be close to 260), so I'm wondering if I should flange it now, and make a 1995cc (88x82) stroker for my bus, or just wait for something to 'let go'.

I guess I'll wait and see how anxious I am to get the friggin thing running.

</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Eric,
I would definately step up to a flange if I were you.

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Marty Staggs
www.staggsracing.com

sinistervw · Post by **sinistervw** » Wed Jun 12, 2002 9:50 pm

i think im just gonna go with a scat flanged or a bugpack flanged...just need to get the case machined for it

[This message has been edited by sinistervw (edited 06-12-2002).]