383 crankshaft help !!

[mopar family]

hi !! this is the story and the problem , i have a good friend who is restoring a 59 chrysler windsor , originaly equipped with a 383 R block when he bought the car it had no engine and no torque converter , he didn't care about B block or R block , he found a very good 69 383 B block engine , and after a lot of research the good torque converter for his push button 727 , but he didn't know that the 59 383 had a different crankshaft than a 69 and of course it not fit the torque converter , someone told me to put a torqueflite ( from 62 to 65 ) but what about the hand brake ?? in 59 it's not with the push button group ! so may be the solution is to put a 59 crankshaft on the 69 block ?? is it possible ?? what would you do ??

 

[lewtot184]

if i remeber correctly the early cranks have an extended rear flange. the issue is how much its extended. an early crank would work but finding one with the correct main sizes and stroke for the 69 block probably won't be easy. i'd look at fabbing a spacer to move the flex plate back.

 

[mopar family]

yes the early crank has an extended rear flange , you think that the main sizes and the stroke are very different ? and if we do a spacer no risk for the engine ?

 

[lewtot184]

the mains and stroke would have to be correct for the 69 block. an early 361 crank might work. the issues i see for spacing the flex plate back is, how thick, getting flex plate to crank bolts, early flex plate matching bolt pattern on late crank, and are you going to drive it or beat the snot out of it. actually, early 361 crank sounds doable , if it can be found.

 

[Meep-Meep]

The first 383 was an RB with a 3.75" stroke and was called the Golden Lion. I didn't realize they had the extended flange but I think the early HEMI's did so it kind of makes sense the then new B/RB engine would carry over that tradition. I suspect the 440 crank would fit the original 59 block but those don't have the flange type you require. I bet you can get an adapter made to fit the late model crank that has the features to fit the early tranny - if it's just a converter bolt up issue. The 69 383 block has smaller mains than the 440 and if you have the 59 crank you should be able to cut the mains down and bolt it in. But I'd save that trouble and contemplate on putting the 59 crank in a 440 block and call it a sleeper.

 

[mopar family]

thanks for your answers , i shall explain it to my friend !! and i still open for any other solutions !!

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Make sure you don't loose any flex plate bolts! try to find them some were. if you do let me know.

Finding or making the right flex plate would be an easier task then replacing the crank IMO

 

[mopar family]

ok ! as soon as i have some news i will tell !! thanks again