dallasite21

Anyone ever had any luck getting their harmonic balancer from Oreilly or other standard parts stores? I got one from Oreilly and it is not quite as wide as my original which cause the pulleys not to line up correctly. Is this the kind of part that you have to order from a Year One type place or has anyone been able to find the right fit at the standard parts store. Oreilly sold me the Powerbond part# PB1147N.

gearheads78

I would find a good used OE one if I was you. What was wrong with the one you had?

dallasite21

Well I noticed a woble in it while it was running and the engine seemed to have a little shake to it. Im pretty sure that I pressed it in good and even, but rather than speculate I just decided to replace it. I didnt know that I would run into issues with the replacement parts. I ordered another one from Napa that will be here tommorow. Hopefully it will match more closely with my original. Any suggestions on where to find a good used original one if needed, and how to make sure its not messed up as well?

Bluevista

You can have yours rebuilt for around a hundred bucks. You know it's the right one when you get it back? I think mine may have slipped a little and need some attention , good winter project.
If my water pump ever goes I'll have it rebuilt too, I've heard too many water pump replacement horror stories.

InfoJunkie

Dorman Products makes one that is a bit wider than the Powerbond.
Dorman is 3.219" while the Powerbond is only 3.188.

2blu442

I've seen some 1971-72ish 350 balancers that were noticeably wider than the 455 balancers of the same years, then I've seen some 350's that were the same width as 455's. I don't know the rhyme or reason between the differences, but I have one or more of the wider ones if you wanted to try another used one. Long term though you might want to go with Bluevista's comment and get yours rebuilt. John

dallasite21

Mine also slides right on the the shaft with no friction. ike the new balancer is bored out a little to much. Shouldnt it be tight to the point where you have to use the installer to put it on? I have tried the Dorman brand that I got from Napa and the Powerbond brand from Oreilly, both with the same result. Shouldnt it always fight very snug or is it ok for it to slide on easy?

MDchanic

It should slide ON, but it shouldn't slide OFF after it's been tightened (and then loosened).

- Eric

oldsconv

I went through this slip fit issue with the Dorman brand, Napa brand (made by Dorman anyway), etc. I ordered 4 from various sources and they all slid right on but should be a slight press fit. I contacted Dorman and they went into their warehouse and checked the 20 they had in stock and said "Oh Crap" - they are bored slightly too big. Their last response to me was they are having new ones made but I doubt they pulled any from the shelves. I guess the sweat shop in China did not measure properly.

dallasite21

That is exactly what I am experiencing. So far both Powerbond and Dorman are a no go. Im going to put my old one back on and just make sure i is seated all teh way in. Maybe that is my problem. If not I will just keep it on until I can find a suitable replacement.

jrzybob442

Try Damper Dudes http://www.damperdudes.net//index.ph...d5f68c2d0ca614

If they don't have it in stock, they will rebuild a core for you.

jaymann

I used this guy to rebuild my original:
http://www.dalemfg.com/

Really fast turn around and great work. Very reasonable price too. Somewhere just over $100.
Might be worth it in your case.

defiant1

Apparently I did not read this thread in time. I, too, bought a Dorman balancer that just slides right on with no effort.

So are there any off the shelf balancers that will work? Or I am stuck having mine rebuilt?

d1

w-30dreamin

Questions please,

Is a factory stock balancer,crankshaft and flywheel assembly a balanced unit?
If a new balancer or flywheel is added,do they need to weigh the exact same as the originals to avoid any out of balance issues?

thanks

DJS70cutlass

I'd get the original rebuilt, as most parts store balancers are made in China and probably won't work right anyway.

joesw31

1971 350 balancers are wider. but you can use a 350, 403, 455 balancer with no problems. The thickness of the balancer does not move the pulleys. The balancer is wider toward the timing cover not the front where the pulley mounts.

71 Cutlass

Got my 1971 balancer for my 350 from Dick Miller Racing

jag1886

I wouldn't use a balancer that is a slip fit. I had one years ago on a 327 Chebby that was like that and in a couple of years it had bet back and forth enough on the end of the crank that it destroyed the key way and the end of the crankshaft.