Mark Henry

Resurrecting this thread.

Has anyone tried regrinding the crank say .010 over on the thrust and making a custom thrust bearing out of silicon bronze?

And why not double thrust the bearings?
Looks to me like you would just have to cut in the tangs on the other crank box half, the recess is already there.

Facing the same issue.

Flat6 Innovations

The heat treat only protrudes into these crankshafts .003"

Any regrinding of these cranks is very difficult, as a custom heat treat profile has to be applied for any longevity at all. So far I have only found one company in the world that can do this effectively, and they are located in France.

Mark Henry

My crank guy (40+ years, cranks only, biggest in Canada) has already reground the thrust, he didn't believe there was a heat treat issue in this area. Passed magnaflux and all other specs.

He has an alfa builder that does this and it's common on big equipment.

Flat6 Innovations

You'll learn the way I did. These crankshaft materials weren't around 40 years ago.

Mark Henry

So you've done this and it failed?

Flat6 Innovations

More than once.

Mark Henry

Damn...

Flat6 Innovations

If the car is a tiptronic it may live.. The clutch load is too much longitudinally. Thats what kills the shims anyway.... As long as the factory doesn't install the shims backward. Thats usually what causes this issue with OE engines.

Mark Henry

On the same subject do you mod cars so they can start in neutral?
Can this be done through a durametric or ?

Anyone have a linky on this?

Mark Henry

Manual.

5CHN3LL

"They can start in neutral" - I don't understand. Do you mean "start in neutral, regardless of the status of the clutch engagement switch?"

Flat6 Innovations

The clutch with is easily bypassed... I don't do it from a liability perspective, but it most certainly is a great idea from a thrust wear perspective.

JohnCA58

Very easily done, I did mine, do not like dry starting any vehicle with clutch in, under the dash are two switches at the brake pedal and one at the clutch pedal, take the clutch switch wires and got a spade connector and connected the two wires together for the clutch switch and heat shrink a cover and tie strapped it up so not hanging. can be connected again if wanted to.

Chris(MA)

sounds like a good mod, might do that while I try the clutch assist spring removal mod

Mark Henry

Thanks, After I posted I figured there must be a switch that could be simply bypassed.