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SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 8:49 pm
by Alex Dragone
I am building an OHV engine and I want to know should I bother spending the money in a SCAT crank or not? I know this is a topic that has been visited many times before but no one ever gives a straight answer. I have the $$ to buy one, but is it actually superior to a stock Ford crank. I have been told the new SCAT cranks are made from soft material and are not the best choice. Has anyone broken a SCAT crank with or without OHV? And of course this is if everything is perfect including pan alignment. I have no idea what to do. Any help is much appreciated.Thanks!

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:38 pm
by critterpainter
I am having a Scat crank installed in my engine as part of a rebuild. The original crank broke and I decided that I would rather have a crankshaft that had not been used for 100 years in a T that may have been lugged, run retarded, had the mains improperly aligned, run with a bad coil or dozens of other maladies that could put unwanted stresses on a crankshaft.
Also my engine is late 13 and is getting harder to find. If I am going to spend the money on a rebuild, I don't want to install a crankshaft that has been tortured by previous owners. I have not heard of a Properly Installed Scat crank failing.

Others may have a differing opinion.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:39 pm
by Allan
Alex, in my opinion, the only reason one would not opt for a Scat crank is the $ investment, which you have covered.

Allan from down under.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:43 pm
by Original Smith
I've got one in my '13 roadster. It smooths it out, that's all. I had to take some off the front center pan bolt, and maybe some off the horseshoe.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:48 pm
by DHort
Yes. There have been broken Scat cranks. I forget who or why.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:51 pm
by Henry K. Lee
Without a doubt on a modern build and for some serious hard running, Never had a failure! You have money, buy one and be Happy.

Like Mr Smith stated, some little mods may be necessary.

All the Best,

Hank

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 10:15 pm
by Burger in Spokane
I question that my 26TT engine had ever been rebuilt. It lived on a farm and was well
maintained since new. The engine/transmission was horribly out of balance and tried to
shake the truck apart at any speed over 15mph, which I doubt ever happened back on the
farm.

I wanted a truck I could drive long distances and when I beat a rod bearing to death, that
was the excuse to tear it down and build it for speed and endurance. A SCAT crank was a
first choice, not just for the new and performance, but for the counterweights to smooth
operation. We did a number of other things, including a meticulous balancing, and it can
now comfortably run at 35-40 and winds out close to 50.

T engines aren't terribly efficient for the size and displacement, pushing a heavier body
type like a sedan or TT. Depending on what the owner wants to do with the vehicle, one
must make more power from that engine to push higher gears, if one wants speed. The
SCAT crank is a solid choice for a T engine being built for power and speed. I am quite
pleased with the way my truck runs since the rebuild.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:07 pm
by George N Lake Ozark
We’ll have to wait some for a Jelf Report. He’s running one in his 23 Touring and now in his 15 Runabout on its way to Dearborn OCF

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:38 am
by DHort
George. I am running a scat crank as well. Does that mean if you have a Scat Crank you can drive your car to OCF?

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:36 am
by Steve Jelf
Yes, it does if you're an elderly retired coot with the free time to do it. :)

I recall reading of only one Scat crank failure on the forum. The speculation was that it was due to a pan bent with the fourth main out of alignment. I have very few miles on both of mine, so I have no opinion on their longevity. Both have behaved fine so far. If I were beefing up my engine on the top end for more power I would certainly put a Scat on the bottom to deal with the extra pounding.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 1:46 pm
by George House
My wife says I’m very opinionated and think everyone is entitled to my opinion, so here goes: Absolutely !! Replace whatever year original crank you have with a SCAT - especially if you’re in the ‘Go Fast’ crowd. Several years ago two friends of mine -both with ‘14 tourings with rebuilt ‘14 engines - broke their original crankshafts. One in Denver and one in Houston. I,too, have a restored ‘14 with a rebuilt ‘14 engine and it had the original crank. I immediately drove my T into the trailer, took it to Ross and had a SCAT installed. I didn’t want the “stroker” because I didn’t want the crankcase beat out. I LOVE it. Smoother than owl snot on a brass door knob.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 3:33 pm
by lesvonnordheim
Talk to Tom Lieb at Scat. I was told the crank is made from a 4340 billet that is forged and heat treated. It is counter balanced and all new...….if you have the $$'s just buy it and be happy.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:51 pm
by RustyFords
I'm running a used engine but freshened up engine in my car currently....only because I wanted to make it a runner instead of static art.

However, the engine that came with my car (the one that matches my title) will get a full rebuild in the next year or two and it will definitely get a Scat crank as well as any other new, high quality parts available for the rotating assembly. I'm all for originality, but using 100 year old metal in a rotating assembly (unless absolutely necessary) is, IMHO, just asking for potential trouble.

Re: SCAT crank or not?

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 7:21 pm
by John Warren
I put one in my Dad's engine during rebuild. High compression pistons stock head and cam, advanced 5 deg. new snyder rods with babbitt I did balance the crank flywheel rods and pistons, should have also balanced the drums. She runs like a top with good power but is not as smooth as I would have liked. That was three years and several thousand miles ago. I also just had one installed in my race car engine. I believe that it is a great product and was very glad that it is still an option. So definitely from me.