Thread: What 496 stroker kit to use?

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I know the old saying you get what you pay for, so my question is would this 496 crank for sale on ebay work well? Or does anybody have a suggestion as to what I should use? I have a 1991 (I think) 454 marine engine that I would like to stroke to 496ci.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVR...spagenameZWDVW

Don't have any experience with Cat cranks, but I have heard of them..... I've used Eagle cranks in a few engines, pleased with the results. 4340 is good material for a shaft, but the manufacturing process and the quality control they have in place is equally important..... Maybe someone else has experience with Cat cranks.....

well here is the low down on the china cranks .they. scat. cat .ohio eagle etc all are coming from china. now the billet scat and maybe ohios are not? scat makes there hi rent 300m and 4340 cranks in house and i have used all of them. some are they say ground here? but the forging are ALL coming from china so it boils down to. who.s name you want to buy. i have had. cats .scat .ohios all in the shop at the same time and they are all the same forgings and used them all they are very nice for the price. but they may fall short of a crower or brc? i have seen them used in and i have put them 850+hp big blocks when this stuff was first out some of it was bad but now it is good and have seen it go thru some tough burn downs and had them reground and put back to use but i check all of them i do not care who makes the crank US or china

Yes, you do get what you pay for. I dont have any first hand knowledge, so this is what I have picked up from the guys who know these products. I have heard a lot of negative stuff about Cat products. I personally know an engine builder on the west coast who used Scat cranks all the time, as well as Eagle, but he will not ever have a Cat crank in his shop...based on his experience, he said they are not up to the quality of the other two. Just passing on what I heard!

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

well here is the low down on the china cranks .they. scat. cat .ohio eagle etc all are coming from china. now the billet scat and maybe ohios are not? scat makes there hi rent 300m and 4340 cranks in house and i have used all of them. some are they say ground here? but the forging are ALL coming from china so it boils down to. who.s name you want to buy. i have had. cats .scat .ohios all in the shop at the same time and they are all the same forgings and used them all they are very nice for the price. but they may fall short of a crower or brc? i have seen them used in and i have put them 850+hp big blocks when this stuff was first out some of it was bad but now it is good and have seen it go thru some tough burn downs and had them reground and put back to use but i check all of them i do not care who makes the crank US or china

I will agree with what Pat says here.
One area that is often over looked is balancing.
It is not a bid deal if you balance external but when you go to balance internal on the Cat cranks you may use some more malory.

well i use scat BUT i had have two 4.3/4 cranks in the shop on the same table side by side one ohio and a cat .The same crank. one was not better than the other . did some 4.3/8 cranks two scat one ohio and one comp crank all the same forgeing and many 4.1/4 all the same . but the 8 plate ohios. so how can you say that one will not balance better than any ones else crank when they are the same?i have balance some of them and they do not all the time balance out with out some drill holes or a plug.i have used all the scat cranks they sell for a big block and used some ohio.s and some no names but were the same forge numbers .the quality is were who sell a good crank i have talk to cat they say they sell to some other crank companies and scat will tell you the same. i am not much for b.s and my mic dose not lie. cat is as good as any thing i have used. like i said there was some bad stuff but they lost big money . some tried fix them and sell them . and alot of cranks were sent back to the makers of the cranks in china. i have been told ?so after this they have been better ?so if some one had a bad time with one send it back i have done that. i have paid 1600 for a crank a was not happy with what i paid for.i could of got 3 china cranks for that and a bag of chips that is funny jonny o i have seen and heard more bad think about eagle?????? than cat and have used what i have posted on first hand?? so it is hard to say? who builds the best on a bad day? . but use what you want like said they are not 1600.+ cranks OH i would add this the machines that they make the cranks in china are as good if not better then machines to make cranks made here?? so it then is the steel??? alot of steel like many things are not made in the USA ? any more ?crower now is selling a import rod i am thinking china H beam that gets machine in the us?? yes the steel must be no good ? i have soild and used many of the china rods they work very good for the money

It only cost a little more to ride first class.

I would rather pay the extra 150-200 for good old American parts,and piece of mind ,but thats just me.With my experience I don't like China quality,just seems lower.You do make some good points though Pat,seems like you have experince wth cranks . Seriously, what American cranks do you recomend over China, if any?

I plan on using this is my boat. Marine engines have to run high rpms for long periods of time. I need to use something that will hold up. Now, since the original is cast, and this forged crank it should at least hold up as well... I will probably go for a stroker kit that is all there, crank, rods, pistons etc. And, it looks like you can buy a balanced kit right from CAT...

Anyhow, I think i have a 1 piece main seal since my engine is 1991... I will have to uncover the boat and crawl into the engine compartment to try and find some numbers.

Originally Posted by BigTruckDriver

It only cost a little more to ride first class.

I would rather pay the extra 150-200 for good old American parts,and piece of mind ,but thats just me.With my experience I don't like China quality,just seems lower.You do make some good points though Pat,seems like you have experince wth cranks . Seriously, what American cranks do you recomend over China, if any?

well they would be more than $200? crower brc howards callies or a (8 plate ohio china )?. all the 4340 china cranks are better than you think some one is buying them and using them?? they still are selling them with no sign of stopping .like i said they may fall short of a USA 4340 crank at $1700. that,s is bit more than $200 . all the drag guys and one pull truck and some mud guys run them that i have work with. on your best day you could not do what they are doing to them if for steet and strip use they work very good but if you are loaded buy all first class USA

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

well i use scat BUT i had have two 4.3/4 cranks in the shop on the same table side by side one ohio and a cat .The same crank. one was one better than the other . did some 4.3/8 cranks two scat one ohio and one comp crank all the same forgeing and many 4.1/4 all the same . but the 8 plate ohios. so how can you say that one will not balance better than any ones else crank when they are the same?i have balance some of them and they do not all the time balance out with out some drill holes or a plug.i have used all the scat cranks they sell for a big block and used some ohio.s and some no names but were the same forge numbers .the quality is were who sell a good crank i have talk to cat they say they sell to some other crank companies and scat will tell you the same. i am not much for b.s and my mic dose not lie. cat is as good as any thing i have used. like i said there was some bad stuff but they lost big money . some tried fix them and sell them . and alot of cranks were sent back to the makers of the cranks in china. i have been told ?so after this they have been better ?so if some one had a bad time with one send it back i have done that. i have paid 1600 for a crank a was not happy with what i paid for.i could of got 3 china cranks for that and a bag of chips that is funny jonny o i have seen and heard more bad think about eagle?????? than cat and have used what i have posted on first hand?? so it is hard to say? who builds the best on a bad day? . but use what you want like said they are not 1600.+ cranks OH i would add this the machines that they make the cranks in china are as good if not better then machines to make cranks made here?? so it then is the steel??? alot of steel like many things are not made in the USA ? any more ?crower now is selling a import rod i am thinking china H beam that gets machine in the us?? yes the steel must be no good ? i have soild and used many of the china rods they work very good for the money

Pat,the Cat crank I balanced was 3-4 years ago.
If I remember correctly the crank weights seemed to have more material in them then the other cranks.
I am able to buy the Procomp cranks very cheaply and have been using these in a lot of street cars and tow vehicles.

Okay, now I'm confused, the above add says scat in it, but the box says CAT. Anyhow, like I said this would probably be seeing relatively high revs for for long periods of time. Basically I'm asking what would be the best stroker kit to use in the marine 454. I'm guess forged material is better than cast.... flat top pistons for pump gas. I should probably get rid of my peanut heads... etc.

Oh, I've seen the CAT stroker kits come balanced already, so should just be plug and play right? I am not a mechanic or a machinist, just a back yard hack so any answers would help.

did you read my post #9?or #6? you can get it ready to go but i like to do my own. i know they are right . for what your are doing .scat cat ohio eagle will work . i would add that alot of shops will kick you out the door. if you come in with all your parts .they like to use what they like .and make money selling parts so you. better find some one good first before you buy any thing and ask if they will use your stuff or just send it you me i will short block it

Pat, I read all the posts... but just trying to figure if scat and cat are the same damn company LOL.

I will take the block apart and take it to a machine shop to get looked over and bored out to whatever size I need. I will hopefully be able to rebuild it myself, considering I have all winter. I have worked on SBC, but never took apart a BBC. Hopefully, an engine is an engine is an engine...

PS, I'm all about saving money, but being on the boat and breaking down is a little different than being in a car and breaking down. I had to get towed in once (and was taking on water), and it wasn't fun and was very expensive. Luckily my home owners covered the bill.

PAt, If I lived closer to you I would definitely bring you the block. The machine shop I used to use is closed, and now I will be shopping around I guess.

I first have to rig a way to pull the engine, have to build a engine host out of 6x6's to get the motor up high enough to clear the boat... the last time I had an engine pulled at a marina cost my $1800 for a $90 oil pan.

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

did you read my post #9?or #6? you can get it ready to go but i like to do my own. i know they are right . for what your are doing .scat cat ohio eagle will work . i would add that alot of shops will kick you out the door. if you come in with all your parts .they like to use what they like .and make money selling parts so you. better find some one good first before you buy any thing and ask if they will use your stuff or just send it you me i will short block it

well i do not think crank will fall out. no like i said all the raw cranks are all coming from the same place china it is like fast food stands you know the mac whoppers they all get there hamburg from cowslets hope so