Crank strengthening

[Anonymous]

www.chevytrucks.org/tech/cranks.htm

Anyone ever try this?

CT

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

Yup nitriding is a very good way to case harden your crank and rods.

What I didnt know was that they used to immerse it in a bath of cyanide salts. I could see where getting rid of all that cyanide would be a problem.

I used to work for PTC Components and we used to do our own nitriding of timing chain and FWD transfer chain pins and links in a huge furnace that was setup to run exotic atmospheres.

Occasionally the upper management guys who were racers would somehow "accidently" slip some parts in to be nitrided. Us labor class peons werent allowed such luxuries.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Nitriding has its benefits. It relieves the residual stresses in the crank and creates a layer of hardened material on the surface of the crank which compresses as it cools further strengthening the crank.

There is, however, a downside to nitriding. The heat involved which is useful for stress-relieving the crank can also cause it to warp as the residual stresses are relieved. A nitrided crank cannot be straightened, it will break. It's more or less a crap shoot whether you get a good part or you get a hard pretzel. If your heat-treater does a stress-relief before you prep the crank and then nitrides it after your chances of warpage are somewhat reduced. You need to ask yourself if you really need the additional strength above what a prepped and shot-peened crank would give you. The crank is not a weak spot in most I6 7-bearing engines.