Okay, here’s my story about messing with a flat-plane crankshaft SBC:
So, I had this crazy idea. I wanted to build a Small Block Chevy, but not just any SBC. I wanted one with a flat-plane crankshaft. You know, like those fancy European sports cars. I’d heard it makes the engine sound insane, and I was all about that.
First, I got my hands on a decent SBC block. Nothing special, just a good ol’ 350. I stripped it down completely. Everything out – pistons, rods, crank, the whole nine yards. It was a greasy mess, but hey, that’s part of the fun, right?
The Crankshaft Hunt
Then came the hard part: finding a flat-plane crank. These things aren’t exactly growing on trees. I searched everywhere – online forums, swap meets, you name it. Finally, I found a company that specializes in custom crankshafts. I placed my order after choosing my custom configurations, and let me tell you, it wasn’t cheap!
While I was waiting for the crank, I started working on the rest of the engine. I picked out some lightweight pistons and rods, figuring they’d help the engine rev faster. I also spent hours porting and polishing the cylinder heads. Gotta make sure those gases flow smoothly, you know?
Assembly Time!
When the crankshaft finally arrived, it was a thing of beauty. All shiny and perfectly balanced. I carefully installed it in the block, along with the new pistons and rods. It was a slow process, double-checking everything to make sure it was perfect. I was sweating bullets the whole time, to be honest.
- Checked bearing clearances – multiple times.
- Torqued every bolt to the exact spec.
- Prayed to the engine gods that I hadn’t messed anything up.
After that, I buttoned everything up. Heads on, intake manifold, carburetor…the works. It was finally starting to look like a real engine!
The Moment of Truth
Then came the moment of truth. I hooked up the battery, turned the key, and…it fired right up! And oh man, the sound! It was like a symphony of angry bees. Totally different from a regular SBC. Way more exotic, way more…awesome.
I’ve still got some tuning to do, but so far, I’m super happy with how it turned out. It’s definitely a unique engine, and it always turns heads when I pop the hood. Was it a ton of work? Absolutely. Was it worth it? You bet your sweet bippy it was!
