427 steel crank question......

[Terry F.]

I am thinking of replacing the cast iron crank in my 427 on rebuild with a steel one. Are they available new or do I need to search for a good used one?? Also, how would I identify an original crank for a 68 321 block 427? Is this a dated item??

Thanks, Terry

[Bryan L.]

Re: 427 steel crank question......

Terry, you missed out on some good crank deals a couple of years ago. Some company bought the entire GM crankshaft stock and sold the regular #6223 forged steel cranks for $99 and the tuftrided versions for $149, shipping included. I bought one of each even though I didn't need one. I believe the good 68 427 crank was the #7115. Don't know if they were date coded or not.

BL

[Steve Antonucci]

Re: 427 steel crank question......

No dates on the '7115 cranks. Although the '7115 crank may have been used
in some 427 applications ( other than L-88 & ZL-1 ), it was primarily a special
SHP crank. The 3856223 forged crank is the one you want. They are still on
ePay all the time.

Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: 427 steel crank question......

Terry-----

What makes you think that what you have now is not forged? I believe that 1966-1969 L-36 and L-68 used forged cranks. They did not use 4 bolt mains (with the exception of some L-68), but I believe the cranks were forged. Check yours for evidence of forged crank. This includes wide parting line and forging numbers "3856223", "6223".

The L-36 cranks were not "cross-drilled" nor did they have hardened journal treatment.

[Terry F.]

Re: 427 steel crank question......

Joe,

I had assumed that my L36 was a standard cast steel(?) crank. I have yet to pull it out. I am trying to get my ducks together before I pop it out. It sounds like a 3856223 would be the ticket if I don't have one in there already. Hmmmm.

Thanks, Terry

[Mark #28455]

look at the flywheel mounting flange

You can see the forging parting line there - it's about 1/2" wide, the cast crank parting line is about 1/8". The forged cranks also ring when tapped whereas the forged cranks tend to "clank" or "thud". The cast cranks are more gray (tufftrided cranks are gray too) whereas the forged cranks are more silver.

I have also seen some newer cast 454 cranks with an unusually wide parting line.

Mark

[Terry F.]

Re: look at the flywheel mounting flange

Thanks, Terry