67 Corvette 3860010 8" Balancer Dowel Pins

[Thomas N.]

Hi:
I have a 3860010 8" Balancer for a 427 Corvette. On the balancer, there is an array of holes, that appears to be a press fit for dowel pins. In the balancer there are two dowel pins next to each other. They do not line up with the pulley that mounts to the balancer. My question is did they press in dowel pins as a means to balance the balancer? One of the dowel pins is flush, and one is longer and sticks out the rear? Does anyone know, or should I just press these two pins out? Thanks!

[Terry M.]

Re: 67 Corvette 3860010 8" Balancer Dowel Pins

Hi:
I have a 3860010 8" Balancer for a 427 Corvette. On the balancer, there is an array of holes, that appears to be a press fit for dowel pins. In the balancer there are two dowel pins next to each other. They do not line up with the pulley that mounts to the balancer. My question is did they press in dowel pins as a means to balance the balancer? One of the dowel pins is flush, and one is longer and sticks out the rear? Does anyone know, or should I just press these two pins out? Thanks!

Thomas
Those "dowel pins" balance the rotating parts of the engine. The original flywheel will have drilled areas (Not all the way through) as a means of lightening the rear of the rotating mass at needed points. All this was done on the "hot test" station where the engine was fired, dynamically balanced and timed as the last assembly operation before it was placed on shipping cradles and sent on its way to the automobile assembly plant. If your rotating parts are all original there is no need to do anything with these "dowel pins." On the other hand if the engine has been rebuilt all the rotating parts should be balanced and the shop doing that should be aware of the purpose of those pins and should be able to adjust them as needed.

[Thomas N.]

Re: 67 Corvette 3860010 8" Balancer Dowel Pins

Terry:
Thanks! Just what I needed to know.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 Corvette 3860010 8" Balancer Dowel Pins

Terry:
Thanks! Just what I needed to know.

Thomas------


The balancer was balanced at the time of its manufacture. If necessary, material was removed to accomplish this. Usually, this is evidenced by fairly large diameter drillings on the front of the balancer outer ring. Yours may or may not have these as I cannot see the front of the balancer in your photos. As Terry described, on-engine, finish balancing was done at the engine plant and, if necessary, the dowel pins were installed.

[Thomas N.]

Re: 67 Corvette 3860010 8" Balancer Dowel Pins

Joe:
My balancer does have metal removed from the front. I internally balanced my rotating assembly in the block without balancer and flywheel. I like to do it that way in case I need to replace the outer items, I do not need to go into the engine. So I will pull the dowel pins from the balancer, and run it that way. The engine is balanced, and in theory, the balancer is balanced. No need for the dowel pins in my instance. Thanks everyone!