Hello everyone,

A few nights ago, after starting the tear down of my recently acquired' 69 350, I noticed this while examining the harmonic balancer:

https://i.imgur.com/HOEXEfx.jpg

Besides the broke bolt, which I imagine I can get out, a bit of the center lip has broke off. Is this significant enough to warrant buying a new harmonic balancer to avoid any potential wobble?

Any advice or insight is as always, greatly appreciated.

 

what does the other side of the balancer look like ....is the rubber squeezed out? if so replace it

 

I'll have to run home and check after work. If the rubber is in decent shape, is the missing chunk of lip a concern for wobble?

 

its tough to see the pic.... the rubber should be intact without cracking within the seal and it should not be squeezed out in the back if a tiny bit is gone it would be ok but you should post some clear pics...

 

the front looks pretty tight from here

 

I'll run home after work tonight and try to get some clearer pictures, I snapped this one quick with my phone while I was trying to avoid getting oil on my phone I'll update this thread with clearer pictures once I get home.

 

wow the image is vast, bigger than my screen.

Rubber looks OK, and the issue of the missing chunk won't affect BALANCE appreciably...

But, really, balancers are not that hard to find, so why not just get a different one?

Rock Auto has Chinese wobble-masters brand new for cheap or you can get an unbroken core and have the specialists re-rubber it.

How the hell did that happen anyhow?
Dropped the engine on the pulley?

I would be afraid that the balancer is cracked at the keyway also.

 

I can't say for sure how the heck it happened, it was in that condition when I bought the engine. Since I'm swapping this '69 350 in place of a '77 350, could I just use the harmonic balancer from that '77 without issue? Did they change at all throughout the years?

 

If the OD is about the same, yes. Generally the '68 [and '69?] engines used a stepped outer ring. While any other 350 will work there, it won't look right. Some folks care not, others care greatly. As long as the OD is about the same, your indicator will work. Otherwise, get the timing tab to suit the new balancer. Some smog era engines used a small hub with no outer rubberized ring, and their plastic timing tab is made to fit the smaller OD ringless hub. Avoid that setup if possible.

 

right you can use either balancer on either engine provided neither has been rebalanced...just pick the best of the two

 

Thanks for the updates guys. I ran back to the shop after work today and snapped a few more pictures. Please see below:

http://imgur.com/a/czEB7

 

i would trash that one for sure

 

That one is burnt toast.

 

Noted thank you. After I saw that chip in the casing and the broken bolt, I didn't really want to risk putting that back on when buttoning up the engine again. Are there are specific harmonic balancer brands that are better than others, or rather any brands to avoid at all cost?

 

I would think there are fellas here that have some good OEM units for a reasonable cost.
You may put up an ad in the parts wanted section.

 

Thank you for the tip, I'll head over to that section