Crank journal roundness is checked at Katech not witha caliper, but a sophisticated air tool that uses air pressure to provide a more accurate "picture" of the journals' dimensions.In the case of the Value Short-Block's 4.00-inch crank, the rod journals need to come in between 2.0989 and 2.0994 inches, while mains' spec range is between 2.5590 and 2.5595 inches. | 
Here's a close-up look at the Air Gage tool used during several blueprinting steps in the Value Short-Block's assembly. It is shown being calibrated for the crankshaft journals. Once the correct specification is achieved during calibration, the tool is placed on the crankshaft and new measurements are taken. And just like using a caliper, the builder looks for a measurement within the manufacturer's specification range. | 
With crankshaft balancing and blueprinting finished,work moves to assembling the short-block. First, the factorytypemain bearings are installed. |
After the bearings are installed, Katech installs the main caps anduses the Air Gage tool again to measure the main bores. | 
The main bore specs needed to fall between 2.5605 and 2.5615 inches; and our project short-block's specs fell within the range, with most measuring 2.5611 or 2.5613 inches. | 
At last, the crankshaft is laid in the block. Katech uses a Cola 4340 forged steel crank todeliver the 427's 4.000-inch stroke. |
The Value Short-Block comes with a 24-tooth crank trigger wheel; a 58X wheel is optional. | 
Enthusiasts who have never built an LS engine may not be aware that because of the torque-to-yield fastener design, the bolts must be final-torqued to a specified angle. In many cases, such as the main cap bolts seen here, the process involves two or three steps. Here, the caps are final-torqued to 80 degrees. (Note the reading on the torque wrench.) | 
As part of the blueprinting and product tracking steps, the builder records all of the specifications and procedures performed on the Value Short- Block assemblies. |
Crankshaft endplay is also measured during the assembly process, and it's done with a standard dial gage. The acceptable spec range is 0.0016 inch to 0.0079 inch,and ours came in at 0.0050 inch. | 
With the crankshaft installed and all its corresponding measurements within acceptable specs, attention turns to the rod-and-piston assemblies. | 
Forged aluminum pistons are used and, depending on the cylinder head chamber size, will deliver approximately 10.5:1 to 11.0:1 compression. The dished design also delivers a -12cc dome volume, which helps keep compression in the pump-gas-friendly range. Compression height is 1.140 inch. |