I'm looking at a shortblock right now with a Compstar 4340 forged crank. Compstar (http://www.compstarcomponents.com), which is a division of Callies, admits to using overseas foundries and forgings then machine in the USA with Callies equipement and quality control.

Compstar now has a lightweight line called the "comet" cranks...which have been lightened up and look pretty nice by description.

Anyone know how the Compstar Comet would compare to the Callies Dragonslayer?

I probably will stick with the regular Compstar, but I'm tempted to pay teh $500 upgrade for a Dragonslayer or look into a Comet if anyone has some good reasons for it.

 

The compstar stuff is damn good quality for the money. Light years beyond eagle, and better than scat. The tolerances are dead on, and the finish is great.

 

From what I understand many top performance crankshaft manufacturers had their cranks forged in Louisville, the forge was sold to an overseas company and no longer does performance crankshafts. This forced the manufacturers to look elsewhere.

I don’t know this as fact; I’m hearing that many crank forgings are now coming from Japan as well as China. With Callies reputation I would put anything they are involved with ahead of Eagle, Scat and the like.

 

There are no cranks forged here in the states,all the companys get there forgings from oversea's, china I believe then each company finishes there cranks at there own plants,plus the metal from oversea's is better than the metal here I'm told.

 

Now I simply can not belive that on several lines.

No cranks made in the USA? try again... just no cheap ones.

China steel being more consistant or higher quality than state of the art facilities in the USA that have been underdevelopment since the beginning of oxygen-catalyzed steel production? doubtful.

China may be gettign up to an industry standard in many ways, but until the top NASCAR, NHRA, or F1 teams start rnning their stuff forgive me if I'm a bit sceptical that their leaders in the industry.

I have yet to see a chinese-made car be DOT legal and for sale in North America. Give 'em 5 to 10 years and I'm sure some chinese company will be exporting whole cars that are up to snuff... but for right now their industry is still playing catch-up with the Russians... much less Europe, Japan, or North America.




Turns out my interest in the Compstar comet isn't really feisable anyway... they only come in 3.75" strokes (I'm looking at a 396 instead), and the Callies guys called me this morning and said the comet will be 2-piece seal only.

So I guess my decision is down to: Eagle or Compstar cranks (same price) or the Callies Dragonslayer for $500 more.


Anyone think the Dragonslayer is worth the $500 more than a Compstar in a 396 looking for ~500 flywheel hp?

 

Here’s an opinion based mainly on what I read.

With the eagle you get a Chinese crankshaft that is poorly prepped;

For the same price you can get a Compstar, same type of Chinese forging with superior preparation; that’s a no-brainer;

For $500 bucks more you get a superior forging, likely from Japan, that’s well prepped by a big name company.

The long stroke is very demanding on a crank, 500 HP adds additional stress, if you plan on leaning on it or turning up the RPM the $500 will be well spent. If not with a blast of power on occasion, it’s probably not needed.

 

I'm pretty sure the USA forged Callies is sourced from some foundry in Wisconsin.

Steve, That USA Dragonslayer is a very good crank but the Compstar is also very good. If I wanted to keep it in the USA I'd get the $875 Dragonslayer.
If I wanted a very well engineered and heat treated and stress relieved and well finished crankshaft I'd get the $730 Compstar. (quoting LT1 1-piece rear 3.875" stroke prices from Flatlanderracing.com)

So which crank is better?
I'm a Callies dealer by the way and I'd put the Compstar crank in my motor in a heart beat....if you know what I mean. Ellwein Racing Engines notice that listing right above forum sponsor Victory. =)

Karl Ellwein

 

To my knowledge, the callies cranks are forged in Kobe, Japan(no matter what callies tells you) - and in my opinion that makes them better than the USA forged stuff. The compstar is forged in china, but to higher standards than the eagle and cat junk. When balancing the compstar stuff you can tell it is much harder, eagle cranks cut like butter.

 

That's cool. Japan steel. I'll buy that. But if the Callies are not forged in the USA I'm going to have to change my web site advertising USA made Dragonslayer. Never-the-less, that's good to hear about the Compstar quality compared to the Eagle.

Karl

 

You can still call it USA made, just like any other company does..."USA Made(with foreign components)" I think that is how Callies is saying it is made in the US, all machining is done at their facility.

Mind you - not set in stone, just what I have heard from reputable sources.