Hot Rods XO/PP Bonneville project

Happy Thanksgiving, good luck in your racing, with the dedicated crew you have, great memories will be made from working with your friends.

 

Having trouble finding 302 GMC cranks withought cracks near the rear rod journal.

 

This is the second one we found like this.

 

You spotted that at a good time...I suspect that's not repairable...maybe I'm wrong. Were they both in the same place?

 

Yes they were on the last journal before the flywheel flange

 

Time to step up and get a billet crank shaft its an important block saving part. Contact Henry Velasco also know as Hank the crank Henry will build you a crankshaft that will last you a life time. His turn around time is usually two months. Henrys crankshafts are the only ones we use in our record setting 200 MPH vintage engine's that we run at Bonneville.
Ronnieroadster

 

That is the throw that has to carry the torque of all six cylinders firing, on theway to the flywheel. Other throws are not loaded as greatly.

 

Here's the other one. The cracks in both cranks were found when I was starting to polish them. This one is also on the flywheel end.

 

Is it Henry Velasco or Henry Bechtloff? My research says that Henry "Hank the Crank" Bechtloff passed away in 2016. Is this the guy you're referring to? Is the crankshaft company still in business? Do you have contact info?

I also found this for Velasco Crankshaft Service:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/velasco-crankshaft-service-downey

 

I’m guessing one or both may have been the ones I gave you which I knew nothing about. Maybe I’ve been lucky but I’ve never had or seen a cracked one.
I had a rod bolt break once and destroyed the 3th main web and the crank grinder I used at the time said it was one of the best cranks I’d ever brought him to inspect to use again and I was expecting it to be junk. I still use it today 30 years later.
Joe Fontana and I ran the same crankshaft in his 12 port for 7 years never using less than 70% nitro and never hurt it. GMC’s have nodular iron crankshafts for strength and I’m sure governed at 3200 did keep them safe. JD

 

His name is Henry Velasco
Here's the info

• Velasco Crankshaft Service
• 12422 Benedict Avenue
• Downey, CA 90242
• 562-862-3110

 

Just the last one was one you gave us. The other we purchased from Oklahoma, and it was supposed to have been Magnafluxed according to the seller.
Not to Happy about that one. Trying to get a refund as we speak

 

We got on to the bore job for the 302 GMC and got 5 of the 6 holes done. It took 5 cuts to get it to 4.125 from the 4.000 stock bore.
Hone with a deck plate next

 

We made a cover for the quick change today.

 

Nice

 

Team 640 would like to wish everyone of our friends, supporters, and all who follow our amazing Journey a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Thank you each and every one and remember the real reason for the season..
May God bless us all in the coming year.

 

...and the same to you. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

 

Installed the QC cover in the truck bed today and did some deburing on the 302 GMC. Dave purchased a set of Steel 4 bolt main caps and I am waiting for some tooling to fit them on the block. Also finally found Lucus 7.5 rear gear oil ( low friction ) and filled the rear case to the proper level.

 

Setting up the Steel 4 bolt main caps today. I need to fabricate a jig to drill the extra holes for the caps love the ARP bolts and nuts.

 

Which rear main cap are you using?

 

I'm using the one you sent me, I'll send the other one that was with the engine back to you.

 

Lee Rick and Scott bleeding the brakes, Dave was in the cab pumping the pedal.

 

Hanging out with these guys gives me great pleasure. They are by far the best bunch of guys I have had the pleasure to be around. I love these guys.
Go team 640 !

 

This reminds me of a Dodge truck a buddy of mine ran at Bonneville years ago. Not sure the exact class other than PP. He ran a destroked 273, 229ci, and a camshaft ground on a HiPo 289 spec. Had pistons specially made. There were two trucks in his class, his and an early Ford PU. He took the record one year but missed attending the following year. A GMC PU from SoCal took it the following year.

 

Work day, loaded the truck to go test in a couple weeks.
Also fixing some lighting in the shop

 

Where is the test facility?

 

Either the Dinwiddie Municipal Airport or Virginia Motorsports Park.

 

Sorry I haven't posted much lately, life sometimes gets in the way. Looking for better days ahead. Stand by for updated to come

 

I just love the rear end fixture, which appears home made. I'm gonna steal your design.