balance on 440, lost flex plate

Freshing up engine.  Some how my converter and flex plate disappeared. Will get a new one.  How will this effect the balance of this 1977 440?  Thank you for your help.  Ron  

The flex plate is no big deal. The engine is balanced via weights on the torque converter. If, you buy a rebuilt stock converter, it will have the weights already welded on. I think the factory does a generic balance job so, any 727 converter with weights should work. You may require a big block specific converter.

If, you buy an aftermarket HP converter, it may not have the weights. I think they sell a kit with weights you can have welded on. They may be some sort of template or guidelines around for placing the weights on the converter.  

i beleave that the 440s were internaly balanced or netrual balance how ever you may say it. the flex plate and conveter should have no effect on the engines balance.  

THe converter is a large enough item to recheck the balance on the engine including it. I mean....if you balanced the engine the first time around, why take chances? The flex plate is not as important.....BUT "I" personally include them everytime I get one balanced. If it attaches to the crank, I take it. Up to and including the crank belt drive pulley. I've even had the front pump in the transmission included on a couple of builds. Anal? Maybe. But those were spun well past 8K, so I wasn't takin any chances.  
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It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me.

i agree completely with that on a all out race engine but a factory rebuild with minor mods that may turn 6500, thats a little different. that engine may never see 8000.  a nutral balance flex plate anf converter should have know effect on the the nutral balance engine.  BUT if it is an all out race engine those two items as well as the engine should be checked and rebalanced if needed.  

GrayGoast:
i agree completely with that on a all out race engine but a factory rebuild with minor mods that may turn 6500, thats a little different. that engine may never see 8000.  a nutral balance flex plate anf converter should have know effect on the the nutral balance engine.  BUT if it is an all out race engine those two items as well as the engine should be checked and rebalanced if needed.

I don't know. That all out race engine ain't gotta be at 8000 or so for what....10 seconds at a time? A street motor has to see a variance of RPM through the entire range that engine is built to operate and for much longer time periods and pulling much heavier loads. Some of the gasser racers through the 50s and 60s used to just run a crank "hub" so they could bolt on a blower pulley with no balancer AT ALL. I understand what you're trying to say, but even a good balance job ain't gonna be more than 300 bucks, so why not get everything done right? It's also very important not to get sucked into a cheap converter. Most of these that transmission rebuild places and parts shops sell are these "reman" units that are made overseas. Can't tell you how many of those I've seen with balance problems...or just came slap apart.....porous welds at the converter hub....you name it. Can you imagine the reaction from seeing a leak and finding out it's the converter hub weld?!?!?!?! What a PITA! To me, there's absolutely no substitute for being too anal when building anything automotive related. In the end, doin it right is doin it right and everything else......is everything else. The only advice I'd ever give anyone is use the best parts and balance it ALL.  
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It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me.

Thanks for the help.  I appreciate it. Ron  

these are transstar torque converter numbers...     if you drop me a PM... with your email in the text... i will be able to clip a few pages and email them to you direct... don't post your email here.. log in and click on my user name..  be sure that you remind me what you wanted... 77 440 torque converter info...

there are lots of independent torque converter rebuilders. if you don't need a race unit...  

11”
Wide Ring Gear
100 Gram Weight

4 Pads,
Slotted Hub,
24 Splines
CR23L 1977-Up 400, 440 V8 (Low Stall)
One Weight (1.175” Tall)

or

CR23H 1977-Up 400, 440 V8 (High Stall)
One Weight (1.175” Tall)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
if you have a 73 to 76 440
1973-76 400, 440 (Cast / Forged Crank)
Two Weights (1.40” x .75” x .250”)
CR21  11”
Wide Ring Gear
2 Weights
Medium Stall
4 Pads,
Slotted Hub,  Splines


here is your flex plate...

Pioneer / Flywheel - Automatic Transmission
For your 1977 Dodge Truck W300 1 ton P/U 4WD 7.2L 4BL 8cyl
Part Number: FRA-309
Application: Transmission model A727 (14 bolt fluid pan)
and a picture of it.. looks like a 0 balance flex plate...

i kept meaning to get this info out to you.. but got distracted... again and again

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/pnr/FRA-309/image/8/  

Pioneer stuff???? You're kiddin....right?  
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It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me.

oh.. heck.. its just a flex plate.. i could have posted some transstar flex plate part numbers... i am sure that somebody offers a waterjet cut piece of properly stress relieved heat treated chrome moly sheet cut into a flex plate..

i just tried to get him a part number he could walk into a parts store .. almost any parts store and have them pull one off the shelf..

he did not mention.. that its a top fuel 440  in a pulling tractor..

did anybody else come up with torque converter numbers and descriptions????

not every application ... needs drag race quality parts...


if he wants... i can PM him a list of torque converter shops here in los angeles.. that do the work in los angeles... not overseas...   there are small converter shops all over the country..    most have automated welders..  its still the operator that makes the difference..


many non lock up converters... still cost a lot less than a 100 bucks for an exchange rebuilt converter.


so the real question.. does he remember if the converter had one weight welded on...  or two weights.. or can he verify the build date...  

77'440, is'nt that a cast crank motor? external balance?  

sombody mentioned that, a jegs or summit flexplate will work and a reman converter.  

my 76 440 was a cast crank ( external balance ) therefore converter must be balanced to match the rotating assembly