[77TA406]

I am going to purchase a Ohio Crankshaft for a future stroker 400 build. I have a few questions that I hope someone can answer. First of all, let me say that the few cubic inches that I would gain by using a 4.250 crank are really not that important to me, but I still would consider using that crank instead of a 4.210. Here is my dilemma.
The 4.250 and 4.210 x 3" cranks cost about the same...$295.00
BBC forged rods are a little cheaper than Pontiac rods, so that makes the 4.250 crank more attractive...
Question:
Is there a good selection of pistons available from various manufacturers, or are they still considered a "custom" piston available from Ross or JE? Does TRW make pistons for this set up? Basically, I can save a few bucks on forged rods by going to the 4.250 crank, but if I have to spend hundreds of dollars more to get a custom piston, the few extra CI aren't worth it for me.
Thanks for any advice..
Chris

[Ron H]

www.pontiacdude.cc www.krepower.com

[Steve C.]

SRP makes a special piston for the 4.250 stroke crank that comes in the kit supplied by Eagle. I think its 459 grams. It has .990 pins and made for a 4.185 bore. The compression height is 1.285. P/n 196830 (Mfg. job # 298758).
You might call them and see if they will sell a set.

[Desert Dwella]

www.spottsperformance.com,


I bought the stroker kit from them. It came with the Ohio crank and eagle rods, ross pistons. You CANNOT go cheap! If you are gonna stroke the 400 getting the right stuff is peace of mind.
Worth more than what you are gonna spend.
You get what you pay for man, sometimes going cheap will cost you in the long run.

[77TA406]

Thanks for the info guys. I wasn't trying to cheap out...just trying to see if the extra cubic inches was worth the added expense for custom pistons. If I stay with the 4.210 crank, I can use Pontiac 6.625 rods and pistons that are available from nearly anyone...
Chris

[77TA406]

Does anyone know the weight of a TRW forged 455...4.150 piston and a KB hypereutectic 455...4.150 piston. Thanks

[Desert Dwella]

I think the OHIO cranks and the kits are set up for CHEVY rods thus letting you use CHEVY pistons. Since Chevy is so common you already save $$ there. The Eagle rods that I have are BB Chevy and the Pistons are for the Chevy rods. Although they are in a 400 Pontiac Chevy parts are what I have.

[Skip Fix]

TRW forged 0.030 455 is around 600-610 gms, forgot exactly my last set. TRW has specs in the book.

[Steve C.]

Other factors to consider.

Reduced piston weight with the longer rod combo. (?)
Reduced bearing speed with the smaller journals.
Increased rod ratio and less side loading with the longer rod combo.

[birdzz]

Do the chevy pistons have the correct valve reliefs, though?

[crazypont]

I have not annouced the release of these rods yet but we now offer a 6.605" rod that will allow you to use a 4.250/2.200 crank with an off the shelf pontiac floater piston such as KB or Sealed power.

These are H-beam, ARP 8740 bolts, 810 grams, bushed small end. Small end is .980 for pontiac piston and large end is BBC rod journal size.

We also offer the 4.250/2.200/3"main crank -but with 2350g bobweight and straight shot oiling. The cranks we sell all have straight shot oiling. This is the same way the factory drilled the 389/400 cranks.

www.enginecraft.com

We also now have 4340 I beam capbolt rods in stock- stock pontiac dimensions-press pin-777g

More to be announced in another thread soon

-Dave

[Skip Fix]

Now you tell me! I could have used them and an availble billet crank with my pistons.

[crazypont]

Sorry Skip I just got them in last week!

[Region Warrior]

Being a Ponti-atic, you would think i would say Pontiac rods.
But over the years, ive found the Chevy rod/piston deal alitte better for availability and price.
I also like long stroke engines for the street. More low end torque without high rev's. More street friendly gears too.

[Region Warrior]

Crazypont, what is the bob wieght of your 6.605/4.250/2.200?

I guess it's a matter of crank vs rod/piston stroke.
Everyone has thier favorite.

[Skip Fix]

Well my shirtblock was already assembled then.. I'll keep that in mind though!

[PONTIAC DUDE]

U can use a Eagle 6.635 rod (BBC sizes) with a 455 crank and lightweight custom pistons we sell at $550.00

[goquick]

The longer rod will help the engine live longer because of less wear. But to really up the power, the debate hasn't really been settled for short or long rod. On a street car, use the longest rod you can get a piston for.

[goquick]

Crazypont; Isn't that the bbf lenght for their strokers and stock reground cranks with bbc journals?

[bird412]

Since most factory engines hae their pistons around .023" deck height and aftermarket pistons are the same or a little more (hence the need to zero deck the block), then the added stroke of .020" with a stock rod length of 6.625 with an off the shelf piston sould put you right at zero deck or close. Instead of making a shorter rod, how about a bearing spacer or a thicker bearing (.050" under) so you can run a Pontiac rod/piston combo on these stroker 4.25 cranks. Some of us want a little better than stock but don't want to spend big bucks for custom parts. You can get a set of KB pistons and aftermarket rods for a Pontiac for $100 more than the custom forgings you need to run this crank with BC rods. For a street engine, you don't need top of the line race parts and I doubt you can buy Chevy rods in 6.800 for $100. So if you could find someone to produce the eeded bearing, the Pontiac piston/rod would be the cheaper solution for a street engine. Problem is, no one makes one.