Cast or forged?

[bighammer]

I have had this for around 10 years... I'm not a mechanic, but is this a cast crank? I think yes, but not a forged one, right?

Mark

 

[66340SEDAN]

One easy way to tell is tap it with a hammer, if it makes a "ting" and rings a little, its a forged crank. A cast crank will be more of a "sold" sounding noice with less ring to it.

What is the part number on the crank? Part number will tell for sure...

 

[jimjimjimmy]

it is a forged unit

 

[jimjimjimmy]

a cast crank has a thin line and a forged has a wider quater inch line on the throws

 

[mopardude318]

looks like a forged crank to me...

 

[airwoofer]

Not sure how they "forged" those casting pigtails on the 2nd throw from the rear.

Use a piece of strong string to hang the crank and tap it with a hammer. Doubt it rings.

 

[MRL Performance]

That is 100% forged.

 

[X-RACER]

Forged for sure !

 

[bighammer]

Does this pic help to identify?

 

[bighammer]

Another photo

 

[66340SEDAN]

That forging number shows that that is a Mopar part number for a 318 crank thats fits the folowing years......59-62 Dodge, 59-64 Dodge truck, and 58-60 Plymouth.

 

[bighammer]

So will it work on any other LA 318 block?

Mark

 

[BillGrissom]

Somebody else will know better, but sounds like that crank is for the earlier A 318 engine (not LA = "light A"), also termed "wide block" (or "poly", I recall). Many of the parts do interchange with the LA engines, so maybe. I recall a writeup on the details, but don't know where I read it. Perhaps in one of the Mopar performance engines books.

 

[silvadful]

Does this pic help to identify?

wouldnt the FORGING # give you a clew????
and yeah the wide line like jimjim said.

 

[moper]

"Forging number" on the parts tags simply mean the casting number - not the method of casting.
It's definately forged but if it's a 318 Poly I do not think the hub will be the later "standard" size. Things like commonly available torque convertors or flywheels may not work with it - so I'd have that checked.