440 Balance

[Hugh]

My new question for the week is. When I bought this car (68 charger) It had been converted from a 383 to 440. It is a 4-speed car. I have a small vibration comeing from the drivetrain, and I will be pulling the tranny tomorrow. However, any problems I will fex then. It is probable that the 383 flywheel was used with the 440, will this cause any problems with balance. The numbers on the pad are as follows, and I dont know what they all are. (G440 maltile cross XV and a upsidedown A) the next line is 10 7. What do all of these mean, and how can I tell if my motor is externaly or internally balance.
Hugh:

[montrose ram]

Hugh- I can help you out with those numbers. G440 = 'G' is year code which is 1971. 440 = well, 440. maltese cross indicates .001 undersize crank. XV = oversize valve guides. The 10 7 is October 7th = build date. These 440s (71) have internally balanced forged steel cranks. You can tell by looking closely at the harmonic balancer or "damper" - if smooth and free of add on weights it is internal balanced. The 'A' or upside down, should indicate .020 oversize cylinder bore. Hopefully some other Chat member can give you some clues about vibration. Good luck with your 440!

------------------

[440Ramcharger]

I had a mild vibration start in a '75 Duster with a 340 motor and 4 speed when I changed out the rubber tranny mount and went with a polyurathane unit. This was the only change I made at the time.

[440 Jim]

Most 383 engines were internally balanced, a 1968 would be. Late in 1971 383 2-barrel engines came with cast cranks. So if your 440 has the original 1971 crank, it is a forged, internally balanced engine too. So the 383 flywheel should be neutral balanced and work fine. Hopefully nobody put the wrong damper or flywheel on in the past 32 years.

[BB 70 Challenger]

My vibration case:

- my Challenger came from the factory with a 383 (internally balanced) engine and a TF727 trans with no weight pads welded on the converter (just the way an internally balanced combo should be)

- yhen some former owner blew the 383 engine and swapped in a 440 plant

- then I bought the car, and I noticed there was some vibration at around 4000-4500rpms

- I inspected the drivetrain, and this is what I found: 440 has got a forged crank, small damper BUT welded balance pads on the converter. A mismatch combo = internal and external balance parts mixed together.

- so, maybe somebody had bought a converter for a 440, and got the usual unit for a cast crank 440 = externally balanced with those required balance pads. If only had he used the original zero-balance converter...

- I took those balance pads off, and no more vibration any more at 4000-4500rpms. Everything works fine.

- and my 440 is a ´78 casting, so everyone knows it must have a cast crank, right? No forged cranks after muscle years, right? Well, we´re talking about a TRUCK block here now, so it´s got a forged crank. Casting number 40066304408 and 5T44095.


Go figure.... ;

[440 Jim]

Thanks for the update, and congrats for finding the previous owner(s) mistake.

Originally posted by BB 70 Challenger:
My vibration case:
- and my 440 is a ´78 casting, so everyone knows it must have a cast crank, right? No forged cranks after muscle years, right? Well, we´re talking about a TRUCK block here now, so it´s got a forged crank. Casting number 40066304408 and 5T44095.


Go figure.... ;-)

I thought the stamping 5T440 was a 1975 model year block. Does the casting date say 1978?


------------------
440 Jim
E-Body F

[BB 70 Challenger]

Yeah, the long number 4006630 440 8 says it´s a 440 RB from 1978. The number is cast on the block on the driver´s side just under the head.

The other numers are stamped on the flat surface in front of the engine, near the distributor and water pump. They read
5 T
440
9 5

I think I got the meaning of those stamped numbers from a Y1 book or from the Mopar bible.

I may be wrong, still. So, any other opinion

[DartGT66]

There should be a clear casting date in the drivers side of the block, if I remember correctly. The 440 8 means it's the 8th 'edition' of the block mold.

[451boy]

5T440 is a 1975 440 built at the Trenton plant. It doesn't mean truck block and it isn't a 1978 motor. Light truck motors were the same as passenger car motors. Heavy truck motors would be stamped 440-3 or something like that depending on the year.