C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

[Ted S.]

In reading the judging manual it doesn't designate a difference for the 270 & 290 for the '58 like it does for '59 - '60. So did the '58 use balancer #3760584 for all hp configurations? Thanks, Ted

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

Ted------

According to GM, all 1958 Corvettes except those equipped with the 290 hp engine were equipped with balancer GM #3743849. Those equipped with the 290 hp engine were equipped with balancer GM #3742986.

Balancer GM #3760584 replaced the 3743849 for the 1959 model year and for earlier SERVICE.

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

Ted------

According to GM, all 1958 Corvettes except those equipped with the 290 hp engine were equipped with balancer GM #3743849. Those equipped with the 290 hp engine were equipped with balancer GM #3742986.

Balancer GM #3760584 replaced the 3743849 for the 1959 model year and for earlier SERVICE.

[Ted S.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

Thanks Joe, Do you know the differences in the 3743849 and 3760584? I know the one on my engine is currently wrong so I'm trying to find the correct one for it. It's a 270hp engine.

A side question is are there any tricks to installing one? Somehow the block of wood and a big hammer just doesn't seem very .....m.m.m.m.....professional.

[Ted S.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

Thanks Joe, Do you know the differences in the 3743849 and 3760584? I know the one on my engine is currently wrong so I'm trying to find the correct one for it. It's a 270hp engine.

A side question is are there any tricks to installing one? Somehow the block of wood and a big hammer just doesn't seem very .....m.m.m.m.....professional.

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

ted-----

I don't know what the differences are between the two. However, I fully expect that if any physical difference, at all, exists, it's very subtle.

As far as installing one, I've done it once and that was about 35+ years ago. I recall simply pounding it on. I didn't feel good about it then and I'm very glad that I've never had a need to do it again.

I expect that in PRODUCTION, some sort of fixture was used which would press the balancers on. In SERVICE, such a fixture would be impractical.

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

ted-----

I don't know what the differences are between the two. However, I fully expect that if any physical difference, at all, exists, it's very subtle.

As far as installing one, I've done it once and that was about 35+ years ago. I recall simply pounding it on. I didn't feel good about it then and I'm very glad that I've never had a need to do it again.

I expect that in PRODUCTION, some sort of fixture was used which would press the balancers on. In SERVICE, such a fixture would be impractical.

[John H.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

Joe -

That's correct - Flint V-8 (and Tonawanda) used an overhead-suspended air-operated horizontal C-clamp-type fixture that indexed in the hole in the rear of the crankshaft and in the bore and face of the damper; activating the air cylinder squeezed the damper into position, bottomed-out against the crank sprocket, without putting any stress on the thrust bearing surfaces.

[John H.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

Joe -

That's correct - Flint V-8 (and Tonawanda) used an overhead-suspended air-operated horizontal C-clamp-type fixture that indexed in the hole in the rear of the crankshaft and in the bore and face of the damper; activating the air cylinder squeezed the damper into position, bottomed-out against the crank sprocket, without putting any stress on the thrust bearing surfaces.

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

John-----

Thanks for the information. I'll bet that they still used that fixture even after the cranks went to the snout bolt. It would be far easier than using a bolt to draw the balancer on.

Tonawanda probably still uses it for big blocks, Romulus for 4.3L V-6, and Toluca, MX for SERVICE small blocks still in production.

[Joe L.]

Re: C1 '58 Harmonic Balancer

John-----

Thanks for the information. I'll bet that they still used that fixture even after the cranks went to the snout bolt. It would be far easier than using a bolt to draw the balancer on.

Tonawanda probably still uses it for big blocks, Romulus for 4.3L V-6, and Toluca, MX for SERVICE small blocks still in production.