I am wondering if anyone knows a way to identify a cast or forged crank while still in the motor????? Thanks AL
I know how to tell the difference out of the motor. Is there way to tell when still in the car????
I have an engine of unknown origin with an extreme vibration 340 I'm thinking that it may have a cast crank and internally balanced parts hung on it.
Take the crank out and drop it on your foot. If it hurts real bad, it's forged, if it doesn't hurt as much as the forged, then it's cast....
If it goes "Clang" it's cast. If it goes "Ring" it's forged...
nope nodular ford cranks ring and are cast. as do many other cast cranks ring.
if you can drop the pan enough to see the casting line on one of the crank counter weights is best. cast will be a small casting line about 1 mm thick or hairline casting mark.. forged will have a wide 1/2" marking on its casting line. thats the easy way to tell. may be able to use scope to look through the drain plug hole im guessing?
It may have a 360 balancer and or converter on it. I was thinking the 318 and 340 cast crank engines balance internally as do the forged. If that is so the converter shouldn't have any large weights on it either. (340 balancer may have designation of "cast crank")
Though the 340 sometimes even has the same PN crank as the 318 it is externally balanced in a 340 while internally balanced on a 318. Had plenty of cast 318s, have a '71 dated (obviously a '72 motor) cast crank 340 now.It may have a 360 balancer and or converter on it. I was thinking the 318 and 340 cast crank engines balance internally as do the forged. If that is so the converter shouldn't have any large weights on it either. (340 balancer may have designation of "cast crank")
The early 360 balancer looks the same from the front but will have material removed from the back side on one half of it.