Crankshaft Identification -Help!

[forcecooled]

Hi all,

I have recently aquired a counterbalanced crankshaft, and have limited information on its origins . It has a few markings and numbers on it which I will detail below.

DESCRIPTION
Counterbalanced (not welded) Type 1 crank - brand new.

Cast -in lettering on the side of one centre main web = INPAVI

Cast -in letterinng on the other side of the same web = LEPE

Stamped lettering on the web at the rear main = 69 (Probably the stroke)

Stamped smaller lettering next to the "69" 6 97 (probably date manufactured)

Flywheel end of the crank has eight holes--

4-drilled and reamed for 8mm - at position - 10-o'clock, 2-o'clock,
4-o'clock and 8-o'clock

and 4-drilled and tapped to 8mm at very close tolerances at the other 4 positions , spaced as above. What would these be for? drive plate fixings on an auto transmission option??

The oilway drillings are as follows-

all mains and big ends drilled right thru at right angles.

Big ends are then cross drilled at 45 degrees to the mains from the side of the nearest web , and the drillings are then plugged at each web.

This is totally different to the method of cross drilling that is done on the standard later VW cranks.

Although the drilling sizes appear to be similar to those on a standard crank, the fluting at the oilway drilling is narrower than that on a standard vw crank.

Does anybody perhaps know the origins of this crank?

If so, can you provide any detail on composition, such as - method of forming - cast/ forged?

Reason for unusual pattern of tapped / reamed holes for flywheel fixing

It has been said these cranks were manufactured in Brazil by the same company that made the VW ones and that they were fitted to some of the later Vw's as standard equipt, but no other information is available.

So, If anybody has a lot of know-how on the Brazillian VW's, or has visited Brazillian VW factories and parts manufacturers , maybe you could throw some light on the subject.

I would like to fit this crank to an engine I am building, but would like to know its "pedigree" before I do so.

Hope someone can help!

Bill

[Tony Z]

drop us a few pics.... especially of the flywheel mount area. Sounds like you may have a flanged crank.
As for if it is cast or forged.... tie some fishing line to it and pick it up. While it is hanging, tap it with a hammer. If it rings for a long time like a bell or wind chime, its forged, if it lets out a dull knock that stops quickly, its then cast.

[forcecooled]

Hi
Its not a flange type crank.It looks just like any CB or Scat or whatever type is available out there. It just has the strange drilling / topping arrangement at the Flywheel mounting area.as I described
I posted this hoping that somebody may have had personal experience of one of these. Looks like it is a long shot. Even the US forums have come up with noughts so far
Thanks for the interest anyway!
Cheers
Bill

[Tony Z]

have a look, take some pics....

at least do that simple test to see if its forged and let us know. The other way to test is with a hammer and chisel, but not my idea of fun, so wont tell you what you should do and what to look for.

[didi]

There is a Brazillian make called LEPE manufactured by a company called Inpavi. On the tech side I don't know much of these cranks. I'll do some digging.......http://www.lepe.com.br/en/products.html

[forcecooled]

Didi the detective!

-- Fantastic info --thanks a lot I will contact them for more information.
For interests sake, I will keep the forum informned as to whait I find out. Maybe another source of good , well priced cranks?

Cheers
Bill

[Tony Z]

just looked at their site.... It looks as if they only make cast cranks. I cant find any reference to an form of forging process, but they talk about 3 types of casting methods.

Dont rev the crank too high and dont drop the clutch... should be good for normal type granny driving

[forcecooled]

Thanks for that -Maybe better to leave the std one in the motor
Cheers
Bill

[calooker]

The cross drilling is common practice the last 3 imported cranks I imported were like that, a stock crank is forged far beter that a CW cast one just dont like to rev over 5000 RPM. If you are going to use that CW crank, make sure that the threaded oil passage plugs are in nice and tight.

[forcecooled]

Thank for that , Rui!
Cheers