1963 SHP 327/340

[RICHARD CHARLES]

I OWN A 1963 CORVETTE ROADSTER 327/340 S.H.P. THE BALANCER ON THE CRANK IS 8" FINNED . BUT THE CRANK ISN'T DRILLED FOR A CRANK BOLT ? IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO DRILL IT EVEN IF ITS A PRESS ON FIT ? I SEE OTHER 8" BALANCERS WITH OUT A CRANK BOLT .. OR IS THERE A REASON FOR THIS ?

[Tracy C.]

Re: 1963 SHP 327/340

Richard,

I would not be comfortable without a bolt securing the dampner in place. Especially on a fast rappin' solid lifter 340 horse small block.

No bolt may work for grandma's Impala....but not my car.

tc

[Jon #40768]

Re: Its not hard to tap and bolt it. *NM*

[Mike M.]

Re: 1963 SHP 327/340

if an unsecured harmonic balancer decides to divorce itself from the crank snout, its got but one route to take---heading right for the harrison or dewitt alum radiator, then it'll most likly do some body damage. drill and tap crank snout . mike

[Loren L.]

Let's see - 41 year old balancer on a

??? old crankshaft that Chevy engineers decided that when both were NEW required a 7/16" fine thread bolt and lock washer because of 7000 RPM......or put another way, there was no bolt in the snout of a 1960 290 HP to hold the balancer on, but there IS one in the 44 year old crankshaft in my '60....and AI don't care what the judging manual says.

[Joe C.]

Re: 1963 SHP 327/340

Richard:

If you do not intend to subject your car to severe duty, AND are not concerned with authenticity, then I would just leave it alone. The SHP smallblock engines, vintage 1965 and earlier were beefed up to maximum durability. After 1965, all emphasis was placed on the Mk IV engine, and the mousemotor development was abandoned. It was only after the EPA instituted the CAFE standards, that the Chevrolet Powertrain Design staff took a second look at the mousemotor. In 1970, the 427 was emasculated, and stroked to 454 cu.in. in an effort to keep pace with the horespower race. The 350/350 (1969) was fitted with a solid lifter camshaft, and designated the LT-1 (370HP). This was, indeed, the last hurrah for high performance engines of the first generation.
The computer controlled engines of today are, granted, more powerful, and more efficient. They do NOT; however, deliver the same degree of sensory excitement as the engines of old.

Joe

[Duke W.]

Re: 1963 SHP 327/340

'63 SHP/FI crankshafts were center drilled for the bolt that retains the balancer, so FWIW it appears you do no have an original SHP/FI crank.

Duke

P.S. Please do not type in all caps - difficult to read and consider to be "shouting" in the internet culture.

[Terry D.]

Re: 1963 SHP 327/340 Bolt Size?

Many years ago I had a balancer decide to exit the engine, it was not a pretty site. Could someone inform us as to the correct size of said tap and bolt?
Terry

[John H.]

Re: 1963 SHP 327/340 Bolt Size?

Terry -

It's 7/16"-20 x 2-1/4", Grade 8, with a lockwasher and VERY thick flat washer; Paragon has the set for about ten bucks.

[Terry D.]

Thanks John, greatly appreciated *NM*