The early 496 cranks were forged. The cast cranks could hold quite a bit of hp. I can't remember without searching. The cast crank wasn't the weak link in the engine. The pistons were.

I am not sure you have a leg to stand on.

Your Engine Builder whether right or wrong built it his way for a reason. You are going back to him and telling him how to do his job. You chose this builder for a reason then are questioning their method.

You want it your way based on the opinions of some guys on the internet. Not to say any of it is wrong. I think you are asking a lot. You want to pay him to do it your way…he might do that. I say take it to someone that knows what they are doing and fix it before it’s broken.

I haven’t kept up on the details past the initial dyno post but I don’t think this approach will get you anywhere

Just caught up on that thread. Sorry you are going thru this 🤦🏼‍♂️

I am not a professional marine engine builder, but I have built several. I would have used the manufactures specs for clearances and wouldn't have a problem with fixing them had I not. I know that some engine builders have big egos and think they know more than the people that are building the components. That was just how I heard the conversation going in my head. I truly hope that you get it resolved. If the clearances that you posted are indeed accurate, I see engine failure in your near future, but I could be totally wrong and they might run 500hrs without removing a valve cover. I am the last person that would say GET OUT OF MY SHOP, I probably go too far out of my way to help a fellow boater in need. I was just playing devil's advocate

Your approach means a lot......I say this as someone who works in healthcare that comes across patients anc family members with " google medical degrees" on a frequent basis.

I woukd not hit him with the my way or the highway approach. I'd start with, Hey, can I ask you a few questions, I he read from a few sources that motors used in my application need enhanced clearances because of the way they are run, whats your thought on that??? and simply discuss it with him.

If he dismisses your concerns with a decent rational, ask him if he will stand behind his work if engine failure occurs because of your concerns. Then have him put it in writing.

This way you you are not accusing him f being an idiot or wrong doing, , you are asking him for his professional opinion and knowledge. if he is confident he will back his work, if he sees your validity in your concerns he will rework them.

phragle, Thanks for your comments.
I did have the meeting with him and it went well. I also apologized to him for "blindsiding" him with the internet info. Nobody likes when that happens, ironically even people on the internet don't like it. Anyway, he and I get along fine.
I did go over everything I heard from this site and asked if he was good with them as is and he is.
I also gave him the "out or ability" to 2nd guess the clearance on the heads without admitting he did something wrong because I supplied the heads. I told him I would pay for him to do it now. He said he was still good. AFR also said their heads were good. Opinions vary and we will see what happens this spring.
I will be running them easy for a while before a WOT run. That was suggested by this site and I would think regardless of who built them, It just makes sense to "break a new engine in" before you run it hard.
I did not ask for a "warranty in writing". I do have the man's word on this so IF something happens and it is something that he did, he would stand behind them. I can't change who I am. I take a man at his word until proven differently.
My understanding from this site is NO MARINE ENGINE BUILDER would warranty their work in writing. So I would have no guarantee of success with their builds either however some tend to guarantee my failure. Again, we will see and I'm not too proud to post that I was wrong and this site was correct if the worst should happen.
Now I find myself in a dilemma that I didn't see coming. I didn't take the (free) advice from this site and now there was someone who said that I should no longer receive any help from this site. I don't remember who or which post (apparently I'm a "Post Whore" too) said it but I did see it. I see that you have been here for quite some time so maybe you have nothing to worry about but my advice is just be careful who you back or side with. Consensus is everything. I don't mean that everyone on this site has an attitude. Far from it. Even the guys that I can tell don't like me were still giving advice up to the point that I finally said I was going with my builder.
On a positive note I made several posts this time before a problem came up. I was on here quite a while ago and made one post, poorly worded and or laid out and got hammered a little. It wasn't terrible but I felt it was going to be an uphill battle from there so I stayed away. (That "post" was actually brought up during this whole new fiasco. Like I said, uphill battle.) Finally came back and again now feel that it's going to be an uphill battle again however this time I'm not leaving unless I get banned for something.
The internet does not bring out the best in people including me. Face to face, people are no where near as "brave", rude etc. as they are on the internet and what passes for "humor" seems to always be at someone else's expense.
I'm getting very old and still living a very blessed life. Hoping for a great a 2023 boating season.
Thanks again for your comment.

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. When I had a business that held allot of receivables from small building/remodeling contractors, inevitably I would end up with a bunch of them owing me money, sometimes substantial amounts (at least for me). I always found it better to become buddies and figure out ways that the challenge could be overcome, rather than to dig my heels in. The suppliers that dug in hard were the ones getting no money, while many times I would come out whole. You did a great job tempering back a bit and worked with him on a resolution.

PQ, don’t sweat the haters man. Get out on the lake and forget it all.