400 Crankshaft

[Garys1969RR]

I just bought a 67 Satellite, the guy said it was a 400 engine. The last 3 casting numbers on the passenger side of the block are 530, which means 77 or 78 400 motor. What is confusing me is that it has a forged crankshaft vibration dampener on the front. About 1 " wide. Didn't these motors all come with cast cranks? Maybe its an aftermarket stroker crank? Is there an easy way to determine the stroke without removing the cyl head? Any help/suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Mark B]

some truck engines came with a forged crank. I have one sitting in my garage out of a 4 speed 78 Ramcharger that has a forged one.

 

[Redhorse719]

Some 400 came with forged cranks, I have one out of a 3/4 ton standard shift pickup. I thought they were all external balanced though.

 

[Mark B]

Mine has the standard thin balancer

 

[Garys1969RR]

Well that explains it. A 400 with a forged crank. Pretty sure all forged crank engines had internal balancing. Only exception I know of is the 440 6 pak engines had a forged crank with external balancing due to the heavier rods.

 

[bigaadams]

per the book some 72-74 400-4's were available with forged crank...as for the truck story..I can well believe that is also a viable source as I know the LA engines had this consideration for forged cranks ie the 318-3's..I have one of them here at the house and holding it for a build to go into one of my early 40's mopars..the cast 2 bbl and the cast 4bbl cranks were different for the 400 block...

 

[IQ52]

All 400 engines that came with a 4-speed from the factory were equiped with forged cranks.

 

[moparmarks]

All 400 engines that came with a 4-speed from the factory were equiped with forged cranks.

Yeppers. 72-78 both car and truck with a 4-spd got a forged crank.

 

[Cranky]

the cast 2 bbl and the cast 4bbl cranks were different for the 400 block...

Yeah, different in the fact one is forged steel and the other is cast iron Cast iron is lighter by several lbs but the cast piece is still good....

 

[IQ52]

400 2bbl crank 3462922 externally balanced

400 4bbl crank 3672000 premium cast crank externally balanced

 

[Garys1969RR]

Well I am assuming this is a forged crank with 3.38" stock stroke. Don't think its a stroker motor as it doesn't seem to have a ton of power, but it's adequate. Don't want to pull a head just to check the stroke. Probably has the 452 head, may pull a valve cover to check it. Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[moparmarks]

4-spd not 4-bbl got the forged crank. 4-bbl auto got the cast crank.

 

[IQ52]

4-spd not 4-bbl got the forged crank. 4-bbl auto got the cast crank.

Yep, it looks like we agree!