Is it difficult to get a forged crankshaft drilled for the pilot bushing?

[greymouser7]

My local machine shop couldn't do it. Is it that much easier to buy these specifically machined ? How much effort/money does it take to remove ounce for ounce on a forged crank and then balance the rotating assembly?

Randy at Mopar Muscle (Strokerscamp's favorite Mopar guy!) said i should set it up for a pilot bearing???

 

[1970Duster]

If your using an auto you don't need it. However people get the ones that have there already in case they swap to manual or go to sell the motor (increases customer base by 50%. If it is an aftermarket crank it should already have it. Who made the crank?
Also most machine shops can do it provided they have the equipment to do it. Yes you have to have it rebalanced

 

[pishta]

I have heard the Eagle (like 'em or not) forged cranks that have the ESP Armor are almost hardened and that makes drilling them more difficult. A competent machine shop should be able to drill about anything, a pilot hole in a crank included.

 

[cudamark]

There shouldn't be any need to machine most cranks for a pilot bushing. A forged crank should be drilled deep enough for a manual transmission. If the hole is unfinished, just get the magnum pilot BEARING ASSY and forget the bushing. If you have a 273 forged crank, I just hone the hole until it's smooth and then cut a bushing down to fit. If you have a BB crank that isn't drilled deep enough, you'll have to pull it and have a machine shop drill it for you. You shouldn't need to rebalance.