[Private_collector]

The pins I had bought were either oversize OD, or there are at least two sizes. My set was too snug. The set yet to arrive are the correct OD. Not expecting to need to, I hadn't measured the pin size before I bought the first set.

The need for new crank is primarily due to the new piston rods, which have a locked individual bearing each rod, whereas the old one has lubrication holes for the old style rod bearings which were floating bearings of one pair for the two rods coming from each journal. Old crank = one oil hole per journal, New crank = 2 holes per journal. Use of the earlier crank with my 8BA rods would result in potential oil starvation to the rod bearings. Potentially a diabolical situation. Most of that I expect you would already know, and I write the above information more for clarity of others. As to what differences exist between Ford 8BA crank and the French ones, I am not aware of any physical differences, but the advantages of brand new crank VS old, shagged out one, is what I am thinking about. And for the French block, I might as well get the matching crank. Rumor has it that the materials were better quality anyway. That, and they are quite inexpensive at this time, with the best price found so far, being around the $200-$250 mark. That is price bought from USA. Shipping adds $$$ of course, which will always be the case regardless of which one I buy. Have not found anything comparable for sale new in Australia.