Replacing torque converter on 727 w 383 external bal. Is this compatible?

[71monacomoparmechanic]

I put a cam in a 71 dodge 383 engine and now want to put a stall converter in. I ordered one from summit racing. It is a Hughes performance street master 24-25 2500 rpm stall. The guy at summit said it is compatible because the external balance is on the fly wheel. I thought chrysler balanced it on the torque converter on the rear end of the engine. Any knowledge would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[413]

You are correct. Factory did it with weights on the converter. They do sell an aftermarket flex plate for an external balance.

Does your converter have balance weights welded to it. Separate from the 4lugs for the Flexplate bolts?

 

[71monacomoparmechanic]

I pretty sure it does last time I was in there. I'll have to look into a balanced flex plate I guess

 

[commando1]

I'll say that it was my belief that a 71 383 4bbl was crankshaft balanced and there should be no weights on the torque converter.

 

[413]

Have you looked at the harmonic balancer? Can you take a photos? They are different for cast crank. Oblong weight on front. Forged crank balancer is symmetrical all around it on front side.

Is you engine a 2bbl or 4bbl originally? VIN code L or N?

They started in with to cast cranks sometime in 71 model year and some 383 engines do have them.

 

[Davea Lux]

Have you looked at the harmonic balancer? Can you take a photos? They are different for cast crank. Oblong weight on front. Forged crank balancer is symmetrical all around it on front side.

Is you engine a 2bbl or 4bbl originally? VIN code L or H?

They started in with to cast cranks sometime in 71 model year and some 383 engines do have them.

383 Cast cranks were mostly on late production '71 2BBL engines as those were low performance engines. As noted, the quickest was to check is to inspect the balancer.

Dave

 

[70bigblockdodge]

If the balancer is thin and symmetrical it is internal balance. Late production, low performance would be where you will find the cast cranks. Just cut the weights off the original and weld them in same place on new converter, works fine done it many times. If there is no drain plug (where the weights are at on original) use the offset lugs to figure what quadrant it needs to be in.

 

[71monacomoparmechanic]

This is originally a 383 2bbl and is a cast crank. I've been through it. I replaced the harmonic balancer with a new performance balancer that's weighted. I'll probably just look for the weighted flywheel cause I'm looking for a 440 for the car to put in later

 

[commando1]

This is originally a 383 2bbl and is a cast crank

Why didn't you say so in the first place...

I'll probably just look for the weighted flywheel cause I'm looking for a 440 for the car to put in later

For a Torqueflite?

 

[polara71]

Have you looked at the harmonic balancer? Can you take a photos? They are different for cast crank. Oblong weight on front. Forged crank balancer is symmetrical all around it on front side.

Is you engine a 2bbl or 4bbl originally? VIN code L or H?

They started in with to cast cranks sometime in 71 model year and some 383 engines do have them.

L or N in 70 & 71.


I thought the external balancing was on the 400 not the 383 ...?

 

[Mike66Chryslers]

I thought the external balancing was on the 400 not the 383 ...?

As others have said, some 2-bbl 383s in 1971 got a cast crank and external balancing also. I had one of these blocks before. It was stamped "383 G" for 1971 production and "E" for external balancing. I just had the block, not the cast crank etc. that it originally came with.