[x-bird2]

well, since this thread has a parallel thread to it and the present subject matter has ended with a BIN click, how about i derail it with something new. A long time ago i speculated (properly couched with the correct qualifying terms to indicate that it was purely speculation) about the SD's "103" cranks. Since there seems to be a fairly large group of SD owners perusing this thread, maybe we could shed a little more light on this. That is, the fillet rolled radii. I still am of the opinion that this was a '73 only treatment to the crank since these engines were being built off the line for that model year, and not all off them may have had the process performed. By 74 engine production time, i believe Herb and others who's pet this project was were gone from Pontiac and the engine was on the line with management's "eyes" on its production costs. my car (73) had its crank turned down .020 (1984) before i got it by a long defunct machine shop, which would've taken out any evidence of it had it been done this way. additionally, mine still had its casting number intact and no nodular iron "N" on it. Given that i do run the old girl hard, i swapped that crank for a 103 "N" crank just to be on the safe side. After the first Comparo articles ran, i did get a response from one reader who indicated that their crank had the radii treatment, and also that there had been some grinding or hot wiping/restamping on the crank number 'ala the intake manifolds. As far as the "nitriding" mentioned in the period SD evaluation articles, i'm sure all are aware that myth has long been debunked and probably came as a result of a marketing type misusing/understanding some terminology when writing the original press release.
Anyway, for those that have opened up original 73 and 74 SD engines i'm curious as to what they've found their cranks to be and whether anyone has any images. I'm also still looking for some images of the developmental intake manifold, Mark E. never responded to my question as to whether he had photos of his available.