Most of us will never have the opportunity to Wrench on a GM High Performance Supercharged 6.2L LSA Motor... but with Videos like this one, if you're planning on Re-Building your own LS Motor(s)... there is much knowledge to be gained by viewing what happens herein. If nothing else, just observing the treatments being used below is an education in Precision Motor Mechanics worth the Twenty Minutes it takes to see how it all gets done:
Engine Builders Q&A:
Question:
How can you tell the difference between a Drop-Forged Steel Crankshaft and Sand-Cast Cast Iron one?
Answer(s):
(1) Ridiculously Strong Forged Crankshafts become so after being hammered out of one solid piece of Red Hot Billet Steel under Extreme Heat and Pressure. This pounding aligns the Steel Molecules, removes Graphite and Carbon and allows the Crankshafts to literally "Ring Like a Bell" when being struck lightly with a Brass Hammer. Cast Iron Crankshafts tend to issue a muted, dull response when being lightly hammer-struck.
(2) Forged Crankshafts display a much WIDER Casting Parting Line than the Thinner Casting Parting Lines of Sand-Cast Pig Iron Crankshafts. The "Thin Line" is always a Dead Giveaway.
(3) Forged Steel Crankshafts display a brighter- shinier finish versus the Dull Gray patina appearance that Sand Cast "Pig" Iron Crankshafts display, or even that of the "Modern" Sintered Powder Metal Crankshafts.
Engine Builders Q&A:
Question:
How can you tell the difference between a Drop-Forged Steel Crankshaft and Sand-Cast Cast Iron one?
Answer(s):
(1) Ridiculously Strong Forged Crankshafts become so after being hammered out of one solid piece of Red Hot Billet Steel under Extreme Heat and Pressure. This pounding aligns the Steel Molecules, removes Graphite and Carbon and allows the Crankshafts to literally "Ring Like a Bell" when being struck lightly with a Brass Hammer. Cast Iron Crankshafts tend to issue a muted, dull response when being lightly hammer-struck.
(2) Forged Crankshafts display a much WIDER Casting Parting Line than the Thinner Casting Parting Lines of Sand-Cast Pig Iron Crankshafts. The "Thin Line" is always a Dead Giveaway.
(3) Forged Steel Crankshafts display a brighter- shinier finish versus the Dull Gray patina appearance that Sand Cast "Pig" Iron Crankshafts display, or even that of the "Modern" Sintered Powder Metal Crankshafts.