Crankshaft issues

Trippin

SoCal Diesel
Aug 10, 2006
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just to update this thread, Empire Diesel has released a new Cam that has a different firing order - i believe it swaps 2 and 7 if i read correctly- they say they have found it not only increases hp all things being equal, but it could be the fix for breaking cranks. thoughts?

Where did you hear this?
 

juddski88

Freedom Diesel
Jul 1, 2008
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Chesterfield, Mass.
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LBZ

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Jul 2, 2007
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My crank passed a mag test with flying colours. I guess we will see. I think it's kinda like Pat said about the pistons. You never really know how long they will last until they go so it seems more along the lines of quality control than anything else as to what determines how long they will last.

I agree with you guys on the gear issue as well. Lose the water pump is a good start. Too bad we couldn't run a timing chain.
 

Trippin

SoCal Diesel
Aug 10, 2006
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fishsmith

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May 14, 2008
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My crank passed a mag test with flying colours. I guess we will see. I think it's kinda like Pat said about the pistons. You never really know how long they will last until they go so it seems more along the lines of quality control than anything else as to what determines how long they will last.

I agree with you guys on the gear issue as well. Lose the water pump is a good start. Too bad we couldn't run a timing chain.

My crank passed a wet-mag check also.:( Maybe you will have better luck though.
 

SmokeShow

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Nov 30, 2006
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it's been brought to attention that the CAM doesn't change the firing order (which piston is in position for firing) but rather the CRANK does. The cam obviously just controls when the valves open and BOTH would have to be different to actually change the firing order, right?
 

dmaxlover

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Mar 17, 2007
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Cam change alone won't change the firing order. Along with the cam, it also has to have the correct fuel injection timing, but that is as simple as swapping around the wiring harness from the injectors that are being affected.
 

JoshH

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Feb 14, 2007
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it's been brought to attention that the CAM doesn't change the firing order (which piston is in position for firing) but rather the CRANK does. The cam obviously just controls when the valves open and BOTH would have to be different to actually change the firing order, right?
Yes and no. You can change the firing order with a different grind on the cam, but you are still limited by the throws on the crank. The 2/7 swap would be a neat trick...
 

Mike

hmmm....
Feb 17, 2007
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San Angelo, TX
Cam change alone won't change the firing order. Along with the cam, it also has to have the correct fuel injection timing, but that is as simple as swapping around the wiring harness from the injectors that are being affected.

Just curious if the misfire presence or lack of being programmed for the changes is effected with firing order changes? I read an article somewhere about mechanical injection and changing the firing order, but doing so with these current calibrations/operating system I would think would be a pain.
 

JoshH

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Did I miss the Duramax reference?
Are you talking about in the link I posted? If so, there was no Duramax reference. That was a general article about firing order swaps. The forces in any V8 will be similar, they are just generally greater in a high power diesel. I thought it was good info that someone might want to read. It did have some good info about crankshaft issues.
 

ripmf666

Active member
Sep 20, 2006
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I never had my crank checked if it breaks it breaks. Seems the more you try to get it right the sooner they break throw it in there give it hell and they last. If mine blows I'm replacing it with my 400 racing sbc set up for the big turbo or supercharger hell with it.