Hey guys, new here to the forum. Started an engine build and I've already encountered a problem....
Bought a 383 kit with 4340 crank from Powerhouse aka enginekits.com & had a local machinist do the bottom end work & assembly. Seemed legit since he does a lot of work for big shops & part stores in my area. Got it back to my place to mask & paint. When I took the masking off the crank I noticed what looked like casting flaws on one end of the crank and it had very crude grinding done to it. If the machinist was trying to hide something he could have easily rotated the crank but he didn't, at the same time why didn't he say anything about it when I picked it up. Plus I know powerhouse is less reputable than Scat or Eagle but should a 4340 crank have casting flaws like this?
Here are some pics, let me know what you guys think.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh299/bberrey12/th_101_0259.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh299/bberrey12/th_101_0253.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh299/bberrey12/th_101_0255.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh299/bberrey12/th_101_0254.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

 

[&:] maybe its just my retarded self that cant seem to make the pictures any bigger than about 1.5 x2 in. so i cant see them too well but it looks as though some material may have been added for balancing purposes, a highly recommended step for any build. i very rarely see grinding as a follow up to drilling and or the addition of heavy metals for balancing purposes but i suppose its possible(really hard to tell cause i cant see the pics well). ill try to figure out how to make pics bigger and maybe add to this kurt

 

[&:] id tried to enlarge them but the quality prevents them getting any larger and retaining any quality to see the details. help us out with some bigger and better pics maybe kurt

 

Cranks made of 4340 are forged steel, so there can't be any casting flaws. Best I can make out from the small pictures is that the crank was either dropped on a concrete floor or some work was done to get it balanced.

 

Alright these pics should be better



[IMG]local://upfiles/12548/843E0F2F3CF24082BA1FFD399E445293.jpg[/IMG]

 

Two thing come to mind. First is why did the machine shop accept that crank, Second why didn't they just clean it up some. You could moved just a few grams of metal around and made it look a whole lot better. If that was done in a balance job its the worst I have ever seen. Its tuff to tell but it almost looks like there still some concrete on the steel. Maybe the whole engine was droped and the crank took the hit? I would heading back to the machine shop for an explaination.

 

i do believe that is quite possibly the worst and most unprofessional looking balance job i have ever seen!!! it would certainly make me question the competantcy of the shop that did it, regardless of the job being done in house or sent out. i can only assume this was a result of balancing and not casting flaw repair as i cant imagine this passing quality control even in a low buck operation. from its looks id question bubba to see if he even knows what hes doing kurt