J 440 HP

Just bought a 77 pick up with a 440. Checked out the ID pad today and it says J 440 HP. Can anyone tell me some specs on this engine? I am assuming it's a 72 engine, but I don't know if they had 6pak rods or forged steel crank. It does have the small balancer on the front, but did it come that from the factory? I'm not sure when they started using cast cranks.

I think cast cranks started in 74 but some 74's were still steel (6 pack maybe?). Not sure the difference between the 6 pack dampeners & regular steel crank dampeners but I'd say likely a PO had swapped in a good steel crank 440. Good score!. Here's a BTT & others may clarify further. EDIT this jogged my memory & I had a 73 fury cop car that had a six pack rods 440 & it was orange & I think all 70-73 orange 440's had six pack rods. If yours is OE turquoise then very likely you have a regular steel crank 440

Casting date will tell you for sure...

'72 should be steel crank...

346 heads...

Quote:

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Casting date will tell you for sure...

'72 should be steel crank...

346 heads...

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Casting dates don't tell you what MODEL year the engine would have been originally assembled as since the MODEL year build started in August of the prior year. and an engine would have been cast at least a few weeks before the actual assembling of an engine.

J is 73 , it could be either a forged crank or a cast crank. Look at the dampner . also if the engine has been rebuilt it doesn't really matter what the casting date is or what model year the engine is .