bad Crankshaft

Hi guys,
I have started putting together another Willy's L-head engine together. So far I have gone thru 5 crank shafts some F-head some L- head and one gear drive Ford. My Crankshaft grinder says they all have cracks.   I am beginning to wonder if all Willy's Cranks have cracks?.  I am thinking of going ahead and using one. their are only so many Crankshafts I can find in my town.
Any comments?
Thanks,  Jerry in San Diego

Don't forget guys most (if not all) cranks are steel castings not cast iron and can be welded like any other tool steel. The camshafts too for that matter. My 47's crank is .060 under so I'll be checking local machine shops about welding when the time comes. Joe W

I got a NOS crank a few years back, pricey but brand new, sure if there available way down here there must be some around in the US?.

It came in a WO wooden crate, cosmoline all over the place.

My original was badly cracked as well.

Don't forget Mahindra Indian Jeeps as a donor. The F134s will also work.

As much as you might rubbish it there's a good chance that your crankshaft in your current vehicle is made there.

I did contact a company, Steyer, I think and asked about them making me a new crank, no problem at all they said, but minimum order was 50.

I thought having 49 spare crankshafts was a bit of an overkill

Crankshafts and connecting rods were forged.

Joe Friday wrote: Crankshafts and connecting rods were forged.

   The difference between cast iron and cast steel is carbon content of the metal which determines how easy it is to weld, forging is a metal working process to align the grain structure. I remember going thru the John Deere foundry in Moline, Il. and they still used steam to drop forge the castings. Joe W