How to tell cast or forged crank?

[devilish1]

How do I tell between a cast and forged 440 crank with the motor still in the car.

[polarapete]

The Cast Crank motors are "externally balanced".

On the front side, the harmonic balancer is marked as such and if you cannot read it , the balancer is cast with a big offset weight on it. You could feel that with your finger tips.

On the back side, you can look at the torque converter with the transmission inspection cover off and find two little weights spotwelded to the mounting face of the converter near the ring gear.

The forged steel cranks are heavier than the cast ones and therefore there is plenty of mass to work with when doing a balance job. That is why the cast crank motors need the additional "external" weight to bring the assembly into balance.

[devilish1]

Great, thanks for the info.

[turbotim23]

Hi If you are looking for crank,say at a swapmeet.If crank is standing up vertical on ground.the parting line on first journal[facing straight up at you] will be sharp small line if cast.Flat wide line about 1/4 inch wide if forged.This is because it has been hammered when it was forged.

[6 packin]

The guys are right. The balancer will say cast crank only. The balancer is much larger on a cast.

[5th_Ave_Sleeper]

I downloaded this pic from a forum here a while ago. thought it might come in handy somday
5th

[devilish1]

To make a long story short. I have this motor in my demon with the flywheel off of the 318 that the car had in it when I bought. I've had a motor vibration ever since I put the manual in it. Didn't have the vib. when I had auto with it. Thought maybe I had an external balanced engine but it doesn't appear so. I think it might be in the clutch. What do you guys think??

[dave571]

just bumping it for you again

[devilish1]

Dang Dave you're bringing back an old one I changed out the clutch this past spring and also put in a late model roller pilot bearing and that solved problem.