How to identify a 4 speed 383 or 440 crank

[moparjohnny]

Is there even a 4 speed or automatic crank for big blocks?someone mention the other day he has 4speed 440 crank for sale. Thanks

 

[Darter6]

Maybe he has one with a pilot bushing installed. Not sure about all cranks, some were machined for the bushing reguardless if auto tranny was used.

 

[1965belvedere2]

theres no auto/ manual crank, your buddy is either testing you, or he doesnt know what he is talking about. If the price is right, grab it

 

[Cranky]

theres no auto/ manual crank, your buddy is either testing you, or he doesnt know what he is talking about. If the price is right, grab it

That's not entirely true. Many cranks that went into cars with automatics were not machined/drilled for a pilot bushing. The input shaft has to reach into the back of the crank and if it's not drilled deep enough, like shafts that were slated for use in front of an auto, the standard transmission won't mate up with the bell housing. Many end up cutting off the nose of the input shaft when they encounter that but it's not the way it should be done.

 

[ply64post]

Originally Posted by 1965belvedere2
theres no auto/ manual crank, your buddy is either testing you, or he doesnt know what he is talking about. If the price is right, grab it

That's not entirely true. Many cranks that went into cars with automatics were not machined/drilled for a pilot bushing. The input shaft has to reach into the back of the crank and if it's not drilled deep enough, like shafts that were slated for use in front of an auto, the standard transmission won't mate up with the bell housing. Many end up cutting off the nose of the input shaft when they encounter that but it's not the way it should be done.

x2
Absolutely right there are standard and auto cranks.
Automatic cranks have to be machined deeper to accept
the input shaft and pilot bushing on a stick shift.

 

[terzmo]

That's not entirely true. Many cranks that went into cars with automatics were not machined/drilled for a pilot bushing. The input shaft has to reach into the back of the crank and if it's not drilled deep enough, like shafts that were slated for use in front of an auto, the standard transmission won't mate up with the bell housing. Many end up cutting off the nose of the input shaft when they encounter that but it's not the way it should be done.

Dats right

 

[Photon440]

My auto crank was drilled deep enough for the input shaft. But it wasn't drilled with a large enough diameter...just slightly undersize. Back in the '70's, it was possible to get undersized bushings for just this application, and I got one. Don't know if they're still around or not.

-=Photon440=-

 

[Hemirunner]

NAPA used to carry a pilot bushing for this. I haven't bought one in 20 years so I have no clue if it's still offered. It's hard to tell at a glance if it's an auto or 4spd as often times the only difference is in the final ream process for the correct press fit of the pilot bushing. If it's a forged crank, it's usually worth buying either way. Especially since I'm the guy selling..... lol...but my first crank is already spoken for and the second turned out to be a 383 forged crank. Not sure that's even worth anything.

 

[1965belvedere2]

That's not entirely true. Many cranks that went into cars with automatics were not machined/drilled for a pilot bushing. The input shaft has to reach into the back of the crank and if it's not drilled deep enough, like shafts that were slated for use in front of an auto, the standard transmission won't mate up with the bell housing. Many end up cutting off the nose of the input shaft when they encounter that but it's not the way it should be done.

I stand corrected.I have apparently been sooo blessed by the knuckle wrencher gods that I have not once in 30 years of working on cars run into that specific issue. That would have been a huge pain in the butt considering the weird swaps I have made

 

[moparmarks]

Yes and no. Cranks are of the same casting. The ones going in front of a manual got machined for a pilot bushing. Like Cranky said, most if not all automatics didn't get drilled for a pilot unlike chevy who drilled most all of thier cranks.
Now I'm guessing that all the replacement cracks were drilled for the pilot beings how there is only one part number in the books. No auto or manual cranks. Except for the 73 and up 400 and 73-up 440 truck cranks. There they have different #'s for manual and auto. 72-down, no. All manuals got a forged crank through 78.

 

[Hemirunner]

NAPA used to carry a pilot bushing for this. I haven't bought one in 20 years so I have no clue if it's still offered. It's hard to tell at a glance if it's an auto or 4spd as often times the only difference is in the final ream process for the correct press fit of the pilot bushing. If it's a forged crank, it's usually worth buying either way. Especially since I'm the guy selling..... lol...but my first crank is already spoken for and the second turned out to be a 383 forged crank. Not sure that's even worth anything.

I dug out my second crank, it's a 440 as well. Std on the mains and .010 on the rods. Both look like they're machined for a pilot bushing.