440 Crank ID, Cast or Steel?

Is there any way to tell if a 440 crank is cast or steel (late vs early) when it's installed in the car besides looking at the harmonic balancer? Is there something different about the crank/balancer key, depth of damper bolt or threads, or something different on the rear flange etc.? Without knowing the correct balancer, will I need to drop the pan to check the crank to be sure?

Drop pan, since no balancer there is no other distinguish mark from what I have seen, just on the nose of the crank.

Do you know anybody with one of those flexible bore cameras, or whatever they are called? Might be able to get a view through the drain plug to see if the parting lines in the crank are thin (cast) or wide & flat (forged). Maybe even find a number on it.

It might depend on just how it was balanced if rebuilt as well. Internally with mallory metal, with OEM weight parts or aftermarket, etc. Might need a counterweighted flexplate too if its all not "neutral".

Assuming it’s stock and still in the car Check for weights welded to the converter. Two small squares.
All cast crank big blocks I’ve had have had them stock. Doesn’t mean someone didn’t change it along the way.

Good morning all,
I have a purple camshaft that I got in a trade several years ago. It is painted purple between the lobes , and has the numbers 911525 on the butt end of the shaft. I do not know if this is for a hydraulic or solid lifter cam nor do I know the specs any help would be very much appreciated, thankyou

as I recall from the 70's forged had a wide parting line (1/2 inch) looking straight front to back, cast had a thin sharp line

Bore scope - not a bad idea. I think I know someone who has one. It's a 4-speed and I'm told that the car should have a 10.5 inch flywheel with 2-holes drilled all the way through the flywheel next to one of the flex plate mounting bolts (thanks Wayne from Brewers!) since its a V code and should have the heavy rods. I will check for that also.

65_Satellite
Good morning all,
I have a purple camshaft that I got in a trade several years ago. It is painted purple between the lobes , and has the numbers 911525 on the butt end of the shaft. I do not know if this is for a hydraulic or solid lifter cam nor do I know the specs any help would be very much appreciated, thank you

did you start your own thread ?

IF the engine has never been apart, and it has a cast crank there will be a letter "E" on the engine ID pad.
Except for a 1969 model year engine, on that the E for '69 is the letter before the displacement.

The first counterweight on a cast 440 crank has "440" cast onto it, big as anything.
R