What do you guys think about cast steel cranks. My hope are for a 450 -500 horse 406. The pistons I want to be forged and I beam rods. I just wanted your thoughts about 5140 cast steel crank. graemlins/beers.gif

I think it depends on the source and condition of the crank you are thinking of useing.
Most new cast cranks can safety handle 400~450 HP if properly checked and prepared, a good oil system is provided and you don't over-rev. can live a long happy life.
Really the cost of preparing a good cast crank can be almost the amount of a new Forged unit from SCAT, Eagle & some others.
If you are thinking of adding any NOS or any other "power adders" then I would definately go with a forged unit.

My .02 as usual :D

i had purchased a cast crank as per the advice of my machinest. found i was having trouble sleeping at night, so i sent it back for a forged steel piece. real piece of mind as well. sleep like a baby now.

cast steel cranks like the ones from eagle or scat will handle 500 horse with ease. they are conservatively rated by the factory to that i believe. i'm running one (an eagle cast steel) in my 406, it's probably around 475-500, and i sleep just fine at night ;) . my machinist buddy ran the eagle rotating assembly w/ a cast steel crank (same as mine) in his 406 powered blazer that ran in the 10's w/ a 250 horse shot of nitrous, without a hitch. go for it, it will be fine graemlins/thumbsup.gif

the only other thing to remember is material fatigue
if you're a street drivin' cruiser type a cast or cast-steel is fine
if you're a drag-racer a cast-steel or forged
if you're a serious drag-racer with massive power or as was mentioned a power-adder forged
or if you're a road-racer seeing higher sustained rpm's then forged

callies and cola make some great stuff but as with most forgings they ain't cheap

the scat cast-steels seem to have a strong following and have proven themselves repeatedly

if budget becomes any kind of issue, cast-steel is a great way to go

According to Tom Leib, President of Scat, their cast crank for small block chevy is reliable for 550 hp @ 6500 RPM. So far it has been fine for me.

Thanks guys for the replys. Im buying the guts of the motor as i go along. My 327 is in the car now so im in a rush to get it running. The car will be a road car, with a couple of trips to the drag strip now and then. :D Thanks guys.