After finishing up dropping my "new" engine in the Chrysler yesterday I crawled under to bolt the oil lines and pan back on (Changed it from a partial flow to full flow). I noticed on the crankshaft a dollar sign. It's peaked my Curiosity, can anyone tell me if there is any significance to it.
I have no idea on the marking however I am left wondering why you would not install the pan on the engine before it went into the car. Makes a lot more sense to me.
I was dropping the engine in with the hood on. Vertical space was VERY limited. With the pan off and sump line out, I saved about 8/9 inches. When all was said and done I had less than half an inch to spare when putting it in. Only took a few hours to go from trailer to install
Hahaha oh so true. Luckily for me, I have another crank sitting on the trailer. It's going to sit on the shelf (just in case)
're installing the engine with the hood still on the car. I gotta think there is less time involved in R & R the hood, than dealing with hood in place and installing the pan afterward. But, if it worked for you, we're all happy! ray
Fairly sure that stamping was done to indicate standard or undersize rods and/or main journals when the engine was first assembled. I'll let the experts chime in...
It's not a dollar sign. It an S over an I for Southern Illinois Crankshaft Co., that's who made your crank.
A company does exist that matches that name however there is no proof to back up your claim. I'm doubting that it is true. Nowhere on their website is there any indication of the use of that symbol.
Its not a dollar sign its S I and is probably a reference to the foundry that the crank was produced in.
There was a machine shop here in town that the machinists stamped everything with their initials. That way of anything came back it was easy to see who did the work. They did an odd thing on crank shafts, if they were balanced they got a cents symbol: I asked the owner once why and he said that way you could check the invoice and see at a glance if the work had been done. When I asked why the cent sign he said, "Well his first set of dies had a cent sign in it and it just seemed like a good idea at the time." There are lots of casting marks that seem to have no significance at all and the true meaning has been lost to the ages. I don't doubt that $ or S I meant something to someone at some time or another but it really has little or nothing to do with anything in this millennium. Jus like that cent sign from that machine shop, someday someone will want to know or wonder what it means and seeing as how that shop has been out of business for decades now no one will know, it will just remain a mystery.
from that web page: "Southern Illinois Crankshaft, Inc. was established in 1985 by Michael Schaefer in a small building located in southern Illinois."
Carl Not sure what other case you might be referring to, I only responded that the symbol was not stamped in. Gotgas is right though in that many times mfg. or rebuilders will call out the "fit" of the journal/insert combination by using stampings at time of assembly. Knowing how fussy Mother Mopar was on their engines of the period (especially Hemi's), I'm sure the OP may find some stampings if investigated further. Not trying to tell anything to those that do know the facts, just thought I could enlighten those that aren't aware. Again, I'm far from an expert.
No, I'm trying to imply that that the crank was made before the company with that web page even existed.
I'm just giving you a hard time. Personally, I think it's a super rare Sports Illustrated version myself.
It looks like a dollar sign, to me. That's how you tell the Chrysler cranks from the other Mopar divisions.
That symbol means the crankshaft was made from Sintered Iron.....Mopar was waaaaay ahead of Chevy and their ""Johnny come lately" connecting rods. Dozens of of other examples of Mopar Superiority in Engineering......but everybody knows that....even if they are loathe to admit it. Ray
This. And their development in oil impregnated bronze bushings (a process of sintering) was what helped them survive the depression. However, by the time this crank was made I couldn't imagine the competitors weren't using the same practices.
The Jalopy Journal
