Editing Ford flathead V8 engine (section)

===Crankshaft===
The crankshaft development for the Ford flathead V8 was pioneering. The engine's production development program began with a [[forging|forged steel]] crank, per conventional practice, but Ford then developed the improved [[foundry]] practice, [[heat treatment|heat-treating]], and materials handling logistics to make the cranks from [[steel casting|cast steel]] instead, yielding a crank just as strong, but less expensive to produce.<ref name="Sorensen1956pp230-231">{{Harvnb|Sorensen|1956|pp=230–231}}.</ref> These new methods were patented.<ref name="Sorensen1956pp230-231"/> The simple three-main-bearing crankshaft attached two connecting rods to a single crankpin, one rod from each cylinder bank. As with other crankshafts, [[balancing machine|static and dynamic balancing]] was performed ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RB3z1er9Sw&t=14m53s as this video on the Ford flathead V8 shows]).

The short crankshaft proved quite durable in comparison to six-cylinder engines when roughly handled. For these reasons, the flathead Ford became a favorite among hot-rodders, and this in turn led to a rich supply of aftermarket performance parts. With the use of specialized pistons or connecting rods the stroke of the crankshaft could be increased by welding and regrinding as a method of increasing engine displacement, usually in combination with overboring.