I've been reading this TPI book my buddy has. It claims in this book that the stock crank on the LT1's are forged, it this true?? It also says that they have powered metal rods that they speak very highly of along with essentially what is a hypercraptic (high silicon) pistion. Now I believe they were correct with the pistons and rods, but I'm trying to get to the bottom of the crank thing.

 

The good thing about the powdered metal rods is they explode when they break. Saved my crank and my block from damage.

 

Im not 100% sure but, The factory cranks are not forged. I am not sure about the rods. But Im pretty sure they factory cranks are just cast iron cranks.

 

They are right about the rods and pistons, both very good pieces. The crank I believe is nodular iron, which as I understand it is somewhere in between cast and forged in terms of strength. At any rate it again is a very stout piece. At least one Impala owner is running over 400hp NA then spraying 2 stages that total 280hp, on a stock bottom. Heads/cam guys spraying 175+ is almost common.