440 Cast Crank and Auto to Manual Conversion

[7Dcuda]

Need some help on issues with a cast crank in a 440 and doing an auto to manual conversion.  I currently have a 70 cuda with a 440 and 727 auto trans.  The car was originally a 318 with manual trans. car so as far as a "conversion" goes its simplified by not having to deal with the pedals or tunnel hump as I already have them.  As far as I know the only issue from what I understand is having the cast crank.  Can someone tell me in lehmans terms what has to be done to the crank to be able to put a manual trans back in and whatever that is can it be done with the motor/crank still in the car or do you have to remove the engine and/or crank to be able to do it?

[HP2]

Cast crank motors had a balance offset built in to the harmonic balancer and/or the torque converter/flywheel. You can either buy an offset balanced flywheel or take a nueteral balance flywheel to a shop and have it drill to match the offset.

You also will need to see if the end of the crank was drilled deep enough for the pilot shaft of the trans.

[7Dcuda]

quote author=HP2 link=topic=74231.msg754773#msg754773 date=1294684363]
Cast crank motors had a balance offset built in to the harmonic balancer and/or the torque converter/flywheel. You can either buy an offset balanced flywheel or take a nueteral balance flywheel to a shop and have it drill to match the offset.

You also will need to see if the end of the crank was drilled deep enough for the pilot shaft of the trans.
[/quote]

If the crank is not drilled, what has to be done to it, what parts are required etc?  ... and can it be done with the motor/crank in the car or does the crank have to be removed from the engine? 

[Chryco Psycho]

Balancing a flywheel without disassembling the engine is a crap shoot , you may get close but it will not be perfect , the crank hole would have to be centered if you are going to use a bushing or just bore a hole for clearance & use the Dakota roller brg is the best way if the crank is remaining in place

[Cooter]

Basically, the cast crank has to be removed to balance it properly...You really need to toss the cast unit and find a forged 440 crank engine...This is one of the major reasons a steel crank 440 is worth more than a cast crank one. Ease of swapping to straight drive is much cheaper if you swap out the engine for a steel crank one...

[Challenger6pak]

I have never had a problem with a cast crank 440 with a 727.  I agree with the others.  With a 4 speed the forged steel crank is the way to go.  You can sell your cast crank for something to offset the cost of the forged.  You may be able to get a crank kit and use your crank as a core.  There may be an upcharge with the kit because the steel crank is worth more than your cast crank.

[Chryco Psycho]

I have a couple of steel cranks availble but shipping internationally would probably kill

[Challenger6pak]

You never know.  Recently I found it was cheaper to ship, the same thing, from Odessa (Ukraine, Russia) to the US than it was to ship from the US to Odessa.

[7Dcuda]

OK, so getting past the issues of putting in a manual on a motor with a cast crank, once thats done, what are the issues related to balancing? 

[Challenger6pak]

Everything will need balanced as an assembly.  This is from the harmonic balancer to the flywheel.  It will be cheaper to switch to a steel crank.

[7Dcuda]

How is that accomplished? 

Everything will need balanced as an assembly.  This is from the harmonic balancer to the flywheel.  It will be cheaper to switch to a steel crank.

[acudanut]

 After the Crank is drilled for the input shaft, you might try a fluid balencer.  That "should" give you a properly balenced crank.  (without pulling the crank out of the engine)

[HP2]

Wow, rebuilding the whole engine to get a forged crank simply to accomodate a 4 spd swap is a little extreme, dontcha think?

We all know forged cranks are better, but they may not necessarily be a requirement for this application. Nobody has even asked what the car is used for to see if the expense is justified. IMO, if this is simply a weekend cruiser, get an offset balanced flywheel, slap it on, and get on with the swap. Will it be perfect, no, but if we aren't dealing with a competition car, we may be splitting hairs that may not matter.

[acudanut]

 No, I did not say that...My remedy has worked in the past.

[bigblue73]

Flywheel from Summit and the harmonic for reference from Bouchillon Performance.

http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/HB440CAST.asp

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MCL-464102-17C?part=MCL-464102-17C&autoview=sku

In talking with Red Roberts at McLeod - the external balanced 383, 400 and 440's all used the same part where the small blocks had a bunch base on the year.