I found a 4.250 stroker crank for the FE's on ebay at a pretty affordable price. I see that it's cast steel, and not forged steel like the Scat cranks, etc.

It's about half the price of the forged cranks. I am wondering if I should stay away from it or if it would be okay.

I'm looking at building a 390 based stroker and use it for towing and farm use in my '74 Highboy. I will be adding headers, polishing the heads, add a cam similar to the Comp 280H (running that in my 69 and pretty happy with it - I think it would be awesome in a bigger motor), and some headers. Primary goal here is torque, hence the stroker motor. It would NEVER see above 6,000 rpm and rarely see about 5,000 rpm. I'm shooting for 500 ft-lbs.

Here's the link: NEW CRANKSHAFT FE FORD CAST STEEL 4.250" STROKER 390 427 428 | eBay

Looks like they have 3.98, 4.125, and 4.250 all for the same price, and interally balanced.

-Jake

 

A few thoughts:

1) Ask the guy where it was manufactured. For that low of a price, I'm willing to bet China. He doesn't say anything about a brand-name, country, nothing.

2) So this crank costs $433. A total engine rebuild with new rods, pistons, etc, and the heads fully redone will cost you what? Over $2K? An extra $433 for the insurance of a forged crank, that WILL experience much harsher conditions because of the long-throw?

I would definitely get a lot more familiar with the seller, and what that crank is before I could say one way or the other.

 

Most any castings are make in China. It depends on who finishes them here in the states that makes it worth while or not. Scat does a nice job.

I run a cast Scat 3.98 in my 428. Race only, turns 6200 rpm for the last 5 yrs now without issuue. I do usually put a new one in every 4-5 yrs just to eliminate any chance of problems. Just can't fork over the money for a $2400 Crower billet!!! Last one I got was about $700? Pretty sure the price has dropped over the years now.

For a street toy, I wouldn't worry too much about running a new cast crank.

 

Thanks for weighing in Freightrain, I wasn't aware of anyone using a cast stroker in an FE

I'm still wondering who did the machining on that thing.

As a side note, I am pretty impressed with most Chinese cast iron like brake rotors for one thing. I am fine with the casting, it's the machining that you have to watch.

 

Pretty sure the Scat cranks are just cast, not forged. Are they from the same manufacturer? Who knows.

In theory, the internally balanced 3.98 stroke crank would make for a very low cost "stroker" for a 68+ truck 390. A clean-up bore and oversize pistons would likely be required, but using the replacement 1.66 pin height pistons would bump the CR into the upper 9's or lower 10's depending on heads used. Afterall, that's what Ford did to build the 410 back in the 60's.......
Toss in a mild/moderate cam, and there would be a huge improvement in torque over what a similar 390 would give. Well, maybe not "huge", but certainly a bit more.....

 

My crank was a work of art just looking at it. Nicely done, what looked to be shot peened and sizes were nice.

I don't deal alot in them, but from stories from guys that do say there are quality differences from different suppliers. All start with the same casting, just how well they finish it(size wise).

Art, mine is std stroke(3.98), though if it was available 10 yrs ago I would have stroked it. I already had rods/pistons, so I didn't have the funds to start over again.

I lost a stock crank in spring of 2000, started with another stock crank, but in 2002 I bought my first Scat crank. I ran the first one for 4 yrs and just figured I would rotate new ones to eliminate chances of breakage. For the cost, it seems like a good insurance policy. I was suppose to put a new one this past winter, but funds did not allow it. The mileage the wagon gets anymore is pretty slim so I'm not too concerned with it. I used to put 200 passes a year. Now it's under a 100.

Scat offers a Forged 460 crank, and I "think" they are going to start with FE's?? Haven't looked around to see yet.

 

Yes Scat now offers a forged steel crank. I've seen both 4.250 and 4.375 lsited on Barrys site. And of course the high zoot billet for the deep pocket crowd.