Welding a crank journal?

[Huntsman]

I'm helping a chum rebuild a poorly 454 Chevy lump, its spun a big end shell and damaged one journal quite badly, I don't think even at -40 thou it would clear, albeit we've yet to measure it properly.

Its a forged and nitrided crank.

Reccommendations for sending it for welding and regrinding?

[garagewidow]

my mind says welding may introduce unwanted thermal stress internally.
i think i read somewhere there is a process of hot metal spraying which would possibly be more uniform in heat transfer especially if the crank is used in a high performance situation.

[Evoluzione]

Building it back up with chrome is the best way (apart from buying a new crank)

[garagewidow]

would chrome not be too soft?you can scratch a bumper with a scouring pad.

[Evoluzione]

That's decorative chrome, you would do crank journals with Hard Chrome, circa 67 HRC.

[PaulKemp]

There are company's that will build up journals by plasma spray and recut
I found some a while back just with Google
If it were me I would look at specialist breakers and specialist American engine builders before going that route

[keelerad]

What about SEP

http://www.sep-kegworth.co.uk

Did the crankshaft on my Gpz900R years ago.

Alec

[dblack1]

find out whether it is cheaper to buy a new equivalent crank before trying to have somebody build it up.

[Sea-Doo]

http://www.applebee.co.uk/engineering.html

Good to go.

[Boosted LS1]

If you look around you may be able to find -60 shells. I'd visit the crank grinder first.