In all my research on 180 degree cranks to the point of actually acquiring one, from a performance standpoint, RG’s summation matches not only what I recall reading from Smokey, but also from other sources such as my phone conversation with Mr. David Vizard, etc. Single plane cranks offer no real performance advantage over a dual plane crank, (outside of the uber small displacement V-8s used in the upper echelons of racing such as F1, Indy etc), and when the stroke increases past say 2 1/2"-3" inches, the nod definitely starts to swing towards the dual plane crank for several reasons.
For our purposes in the private consumer market, (vs conglomerate backed racing efforts), being as the dual plane crank is the standard for domestic V-8’s from production engines to huge-by-large top fuel V-8's, for what little weight savings can be had with the lighter counterweights on the crank in a single plane design, the dual plane offers advantages in reduced harmonics that far out weigh any advantages the exhaust tuning benefits and lighter weight counterweights of a single plane could offer. The bigger the displacement, the more this holds true.
In all honesty, anyone who goes to the lengths to build a single plane V-8 using a foundation that primarily did not come with a single plane crank, even if it is just a weekend warrior, is either whacked out of his head, or just really bent on having a V-8 that is just a little bit different than the rest, at a steep financial and time consuming toll. At that, the end result will still only perform mediocre at best compared to a comparably built, much less expensive dual plane variant.
I tell everyone that nows my ploy, that I fall into the latter category, but those who know me best, I'm sure think I also fall into the whacked category too some degree... :lipsrsealed:
If anyone else is contemplating this endeavor for a performance application, Keep in mind this is a huge consumption of time and money for no gain other than it is different. :shy: If a different exhaust note and the ability to fine tune exhaust pulses is your goal, you will much better served looking into 180 degree headers as that will gain you the best of all worlds, if space allows.