Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Will polishing my crank be enough?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 04:48 PM
  #1  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Will polishing my crank be enough?

My eagle crank has some wear on it, nothing you can catch a finger nail on but on some you can feel its not smooth as glass with your nail. Can I polish this at home with 1000 and atf or does it need to be ground down? Heres a couple pics, thanks
Name:  P1160096.jpg
Views: 6401
Size:  88.8 KB
Name:  P1160097.jpg
Views: 6603
Size:  70.3 KB
Name:  P1160098.jpg
Views: 7290
Size:  76.0 KB
Name:  P1160100.jpg
Views: 12055
Size:  86.5 KB
Name:  P1160101.jpg
Views: 7821
Size:  89.2 KB
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 04:58 PM
  #2  
articwhiteZ's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 101
From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

IF you can feel it.. buff it out by hand..forget the ATF.
just use the emry cloth and Buff. if after 5 min(on 1 jurnl) its not gone.

it might be time to turn..
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 05:11 PM
  #3  
Guest
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

Make sure everything is clean when you're done. Looks like there was some leftover debris in there from the last assembly that caused that.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 05:34 PM
  #4  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

I was going to take 1000grit sandpaper and cut it to width of each journal and use that. I dont have any emery cloth so will that work?
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 06:05 PM
  #5  
articwhiteZ's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 101
From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

go to NAPA and get some..

with strips 15 to 20" long it takes no time to buff it out..
and is alot less work then short strips..

yes your 1000 gt will work.. its just the other is faster.
and not has much work.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 06:35 PM
  #6  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

I read an article that said to roll the paper around it twice, take a shoe string and run it over the sandpaper from end to end and move it back and forth. Do you think this is a good method? Why do you say no atf, shouldnt I have some sort of lubricant?
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 09:16 PM
  #7  
articwhiteZ's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 101
From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

oil or water will attack the glue on emery cloth, used to Buff out cranks its not wet or dry.. and unsing it dry, makes clean up with Hot water a snap.

you use Hot water.. unless you have a cleaning tank with fresh..
(i mean Fresh solvent) in it.. hot water not warm Hot..

will not rust when you stand there and wipe it down.. you can also pop in in a oven.. or use a heat gun / blow dryer on it...to get all the water off and out..

use it dry..it works better.

even when its done i have used 2500 emry on mine.. looks like chrome when done.

as for the shoe string...?? dont know.. when holding the cloth strips you use on a crank.. the presher is even.. a string might make it press only in spots the string is..? never seen it done like that before..

after all your just checking to see if you need to have it turned.. start with 1 jurnl.. and see if you get it all Buffed out in under 5 min..

if it takes longer.. it might have to be done at a shop..

good luck.. let us know how it comes out
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 09:39 PM
  #8  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

How wide are the strips? Do I cut 1' long sections and just work along the width of the journal slowly, then do the opposite side? should I look for 2500 grit?
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 09:57 PM
  #9  
8t2 z-chev's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 115
From: belle fourche,s.d.
Car: '82 z28
Engine: L83 5.7
Transmission: 700r4-1985
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

can't tell for sure from the picks,but looks like time to
take it to a crank shop for a regrind-if any of the journal
end up oval or are still slightly grooved, could be spun
bearing waiting to happen
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 10:01 PM
  #10  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

The cranks only got 6k miles on it, do you think it could be tapered or out of round already
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 10:53 PM
  #11  
1986Z28OWNER's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 962
Likes: 13
From: Canada
Car: 1979 Malibu
Engine: Blown LSx
Transmission: T56 Magnum
Axle/Gears: 9"/wavetrac/35's/3.70
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

Depends on how the crank mics out, if it already near minimum spec, and you have to polish .0005" to 0.001" off then your better off grinding it, have you miced it, personally for what it would cost, id just turn it 0.010", how many miles are on that crank, it appears to have had a large amount of deposits in the oil to cause that kinda of wear, we have taken apart blown alcohol BBC's that have gone 6.70's with 200+ passes and havnt had marking at bad as that on the journals.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 10:17 AM
  #12  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

I havent mic'd it but its never been cut, all bearings were std size, and from what Ive been reading the eagle stroker crank have larger main journals 2.45 as opposed to 2.448 so I guess that give me and extra .002 material to polish off. Hopefully I can polish a jounal today and mic it. Will a digital caliper work? Its got 6k on it and it was running @500hp with a 150 shot on it. A lifter retainer came off and turned 2 lifters sideways, there was definetly debris in the oiling system after that, which is why it looks the way it does.

Last edited by wanab03ss; Jan 16, 2010 at 10:21 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 11:28 AM
  #13  
jamon8's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 0
From: Southern IL
Car: 88 GTA "Cocaine"
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

why at this point in getting your motor right would you skip the machine shop

have them check it out
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 12:22 PM
  #14  
91interceptorZ's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 1
From: boise, ID
Car: 91 B4C "police special service"
Engine: L98 494hp
Transmission: tko-600 on order
Axle/Gears: 3.23 true trac
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

Originally Posted by jamon8
why at this point in getting your motor right would you skip the machine shop

have them check it out
I agree....it is not very much to turn it if it needs it...take it down. I would even take down the rods to check them for roundness. You don't want to wish you had taken it down to maching shop the next time you're at the track.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 01:43 PM
  #15  
articwhiteZ's Avatar
Supreme Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 101
From: Spokane WA
Car: 92 Lingenfelter Z28 articwhite
Engine: Aluminum 615BBC
Transmission: Th400wbrake/curri entps9" locker
Axle/Gears: 4.11/4.30/4.56
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

when you are working on it..(eng) make sure to block off the Bypass in the oil fitler adptr.. this way none of the Junk gets out of the filter.

i just use a Pipe plug after tapping the adapter for it..
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 01:49 PM
  #16  
91interceptorZ's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 1
From: boise, ID
Car: 91 B4C "police special service"
Engine: L98 494hp
Transmission: tko-600 on order
Axle/Gears: 3.23 true trac
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

personally if I had motor out, I would take it down to machine shop and have him check EVERYTHING, not just crank and rods, but the line bore and cylinder roundness, just to be safe...especially on 500 ponies.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 04:22 PM
  #17  
JakeJr's Avatar
Supreme Member
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 0
From: Kempner,TX,
Car: 1996 Vette / 1992 GSX1100F Suzuki
Engine: 1996 Corvette Coupe 388 LT1 (+.060)
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.07
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

Originally Posted by wanab03ss
I read an article that said to roll the paper around it twice, take a shoe string and run it over the sandpaper from end to end and move it back and forth. Do you think this is a good method? Why do you say no atf, shouldnt I have some sort of lubricant?
Yes, it's a good method. It's been around for a LONG time and I've used it several times over the years.

The shoe string better equalizes the OD pressure on the journal. Up with one end of the string while down with the other, repeat.

Jake
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 05:15 PM
  #18  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

Im going to mic it and if its good Im going to polish it and if not to the machine shop it goes
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 07:40 PM
  #19  
1986Z28OWNER's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 962
Likes: 13
From: Canada
Car: 1979 Malibu
Engine: Blown LSx
Transmission: T56 Magnum
Axle/Gears: 9"/wavetrac/35's/3.70
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

It really should be going to the machine shop to get polished too.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2010 | 08:11 PM
  #20  
wanab03ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 1
From: chicago
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: 385 sbc
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi
Re: Will polishing my crank be enough?

Well its definetly going to the machine shop to ground down......
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RS Reaper
Electronics
4
Oct 17, 2018 07:52 PM
Bubbajones_ya
Auto Detailing and Appearance
24
Oct 25, 2015 08:01 PM
bigjay89gta
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
12
Oct 15, 2015 08:04 AM
skinny z
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
5
Oct 5, 2015 06:23 PM
Badass355ciz28
Power Adders
4
Sep 28, 2015 08:31 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:10 AM.