Well, JRR, yer right, save money on that crank and you'll spend it on rods or pistons. Bummer!

Regarding block and crank relative strengths, it seems to me that the stock blocks are failing before the cranks get into trouble. So it seems counterproductive to weaken a block that's already the weak link, in order to protect a crank that, even turned down, is the stronger link.

R.