DeTomaso Mailing List: February 00, Message #3

In a message dated 1/31/2000 11:54:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
itbewild@gte.net writes:

<< from what I am hearing there's two =
 ways to go on the crank.  One is to use a 400M crank and modify it to =
 fit and save some money in the process..... the other is to go with a =
 big buck billet crank.  As the new car will have a tall 3.5 gear I don't =
 see this engine pushing more then 6000 ever....I'm hearing if your not =
 planning to wind it beyound 6000 for long you don't need to worry about =
 the forged crank or internal balancing.
 =20
 MD
 P.S. this engine configuration has run in a Colorado Pantera at =
 SilverState and was routinely run at speeds above 7000RPM....so says the =
 owner! :-] >>

Dennis,

I have told this story more than once. We used a CAST WINDSOR crank in one of 
our stock car engines for more than a season, with ZERO problems. We turned 
to 8000 regularly, and it was still running strong when we sold the engine 
last year. The cast crank will save you $1000, so I would go that way. Have 
the engine zero balanced, and make sure that the crank is micro polished and 
balanced perfectly. Have it dynoed BEFORE you put it in the car, that way 
you'll know for sure if it is done right!

Regards.........Gary