Let's hear stories of Roller Cranks

[alex d]

how many of you oldtimers did use SPG roller cranks? how did you discover they were not the greatest idea for drag racing? 

[RMS Boxer Service]

Do a search on this forum, there are a couple of good threads about roller cranks. I did the search because I have a 82 mm SPG roller crank in my workshop. LOTS of good info in those threads

/Rolf

[rick m]

I have run both an 82mm and a 69mm roller in engines.  One of the best street engines I've ever had was a 1776 with a stock stroke roller, an old ISKY Hydralic cam and dual 40 Dellorto's.  It was one of the smoothest motors I've ever run.  The only thing that ever happened with it was I almost got an ass whipping when Mike Fischer, who sold me the crank and cam, saw me in the waterbox at FIREBIRD raceway doing burnouts with it.

Since they are pressed together most racers had them pined to keep them in index. I know a lot of guys who ran them in the early 70's. My only fear with the roller was twisting them out of index or killing a rod.  The rods were very small across the beam area and always made me feel like they could not handle big horsepower. However, they sure did RPM nicely!

Rick Mortensen

[Lee.C]

I have been told that once you go roller you never go back - because they are sooooooo smooth  (hey KS!)

I have just brought an NOS 82 SPG and I am in the process of having it pressed apart checked/pinned and rebuilt - the guy who is doing mine uses threaded pins so they can be removed in the future.

I am planning on building up and "old skool" 2180