440Source is probably my preference. Understand you WILL have further machine work to have everything be "right" as opposed to "usable". but the value is still there.
Muscle motors would be #2 - but be aware that ALL parts should be checked during assembly - even their "special chamfered bearings" may not be chamfered enough.
Eagle and Scat would be tied for 3rd.
The use of a factory crank is just cost prohibitive now. You have to pay to have it turned and polished, the counterweights reduced in diameter, and stroke indexed and ultimately you have a very nice 50yr old used crank. New is best in this case. Get a B wedge crank with whatever stroke you like.
I would NEVER trust a retailer to balance the assembly. Muscle Motors is a shop that sells. The others are sellers that should remain in that capacity. I want my shop to do it.
When contemplating using a stock 440 Forged Crank in a 400 Block ? and the costs involved ?
while it's probably best recommended for most people to simply have the counterweights machined down at a Machine Shop, if you are a pretty handy DIY kinda guy ? it's not an absolute requirement, and a 451 CAN be done with stock parts only slightly more than a std 440 build ?
The 440 Crank will fit in a 400 Block just fine with a 45* chamfer applied to the crank counterweights approx 3/8" wide using an angle grinder, then go in and radius the main webs in the Block where they meet the Cylinder Banks using a 1/2" Carbide. Polish your work after if desired using a 2" Rolox and Cartridge roll.
Then get the Crank Reground to the 400 Main size with instruction for an .080" Radius Filet to replace the factory "rolled" Crank Filet which is ground out in the process. $100 extra.
I used to have a bunch of pictures step by step saved in photobucket on how to do it, but alas since photobucket dumped a big FEE to host, I ain't about to pay $299 or $399 to get them back !
That's the way we used to do 451's as far back as the late 70's and throughout the 80's waaaay before anyone even knew what they were !
Others(especially BB Chev owners) just thought we had the fastest damn frigg'in "383" anybody had ever seen.... gave 'em ego FITS !
Interesting to note here,
the FIRST "off the shelf" Pistons available for the 451 combo, the ARIAS S7751, looked exactly like our early Venolia "customs" we'd used prior. We'd just use an LY Rod with ARP Bolts, the Venolia's and later ARIAS S7751 Pistons, and a Crank done as mentioned above, Ported 915's with a Roller.... and go plug 9's in an A-Body(which drove a few HEMI guys NUTZ as well)
