also a lot of machine shops when they turn a crank dont put a radius in the journal fillet, leaving instead a straight 90 degree angle which can cause a crack, which equals BOOM

I would also not chosen to cut a crank, but I did not feel those benefits outweighed not cutting the crank. I checked with a couple people/machine shops and the responses were that many stock cranks have variations and should be cut/polished.Any way time will tell if cutting made a difference. This is not an extreme duty engine so my chips are on 'drop the hammer'. thanks for help, Cort