[302 LX Eric]

I ordered my kit from DSS. I went with a forged 4340 steel crank from DSS. I heard from two different engine builders to stay away from the Eagle cranks at all costs. Another builder told me that all he uses is Eagle. Go figure.

As far as the girdle, the reason some are so cheap ($99) and others as so expensive ($299) is the material differences. The DSS girdle is made from T6 6061 aluminum, which is very strong, light weight and absorbs engine harmonics while maintaining its strength. The steel girdles are very strong, however they don't absorb vibrations nearly as well as the 6061 aluminum. DSS said that they would rather make the steel girdles (better margins), but that they've ended up with broken cranks with the steel versions in testing. Coast on the other hand will tell you that all you need is a steel girdle and that you're wasting money on the 6061 girdle.

My pistons are Probe (aka Coast HP), the Sportsman Race Series pistons w/specail valve relief for my TFS TW heads. Rods are 4340 H-Beams.

Being a CPA, I have a very detailed list of everything that went into my 331 buildup - all the way down to the VHT Ford Dark Blue paint that was used to paint my block. I have cost, part numbers (where applicable), part descriptions, machining costs, etc. all categorized by compents. If you're interested in seeing the list, send me an email or PM and I'll send it to you.

E