I was hearing a bad noise from the front of my 1957 235. It's all stock. Turns out the harmonic balancer had worked itself loose and wallowed itself out. They key is a snug fit, but no longer tight. I THINK my crankshaft is still ok, or usable. I want to try to put a new harmonic balancer on the end and see if it will press on and work. I hope this works, as it's much better than replacing the old crank. I just had the engine rebuilt and it has less than 2000 miles on it. I remember previously a "friend" broke my old balancer. It was then I learned that the 55-57 235s had 2 versions of harmonic balancers. I know this because I bought the wrong one. Does anyone know the difference in these two balancers? I have read several ideas on how to fix this, from drilling a hole in the end of the crank and putting a bolt in to finding a repair sleeve made for worn harmonic balancers. Does anyone know if a company produces NEW harmonic balancers for these 235s. I think a new balancer would have a better chance of pressing on and staying on. I'd also like suggestions on what to do about the key. It's so close to being snug, but i can push it in with my finger rather than gently tap it in. The key itself doesn't hold the balancer on, the press fit does that. They key only keeps it from sliding. I'm hoping someone produces these balancers, or if not, that someone has one somewhere and can shed some light on the 2 versions. Thanks, Brandon
They sell repair sleeves for them. Might just have to take it to a machine shop to have them bore it to the right size. Rockauto.com has them for $20.
They are the same just different belt groove sizes I think. Theres a 2 groove one for PS cars. You can buy new ones but I cant find my link. Also you can drill and tap the crank snout for a SBC bolt and washer to affix it better. For modifyed applications like a blower drive a SBC damper has the same bore and key to fit. sticks out farther so it wont work in a regular car or truck application. I havent tryed a 70s-80s 292 dampener but there 2 grove and shalow like stock type,Id like to try one.
Isn't the sleeve for fixing the outside of the snout due to a groove worn in by the seal? Any '55-62 235/261 damper can be used. It may be a case where you will need to drill and tap the end of the crank in order to keep in on there, ***uming the fit isn't really really bad... DamperDudes.net (Americas Largest supplier of harmonic balancers)
A 2 groove harmonic balancer for you http://www.bhjdynamics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_2_35&products_id=39
the sleve is for fixing the grove worn in the crank. this is another case for drilling the crank for a bolt like the later motors have.
I got a 60 Impala and when I finally got it running it shook so bad you couldn't even rev it up. The balancer was falling off, and it was junk. It even wore the end of the crank down on an angle. I figured it to be fubar'd....I took a balancer off an old 56' 235 that I had lying around, hammered it on with a block of wood and have gotten many trouble free miles out of it since, no bolt.
Thanks for the responses. Sounds like the bolt in the end of the crank is a pretty good idea. I hadn't thought of that. Brandon
I just went through this with mine, its a 57-235. Fortunately I had several to choose from to replace it. It seemed fine, just got loose, any way, out of 4 or 5 I had, only one fit tight, for the press fit. You mite be onto some thing that some of the ends of the cranks mite be a tad smaller. I had 235 and 261 ballancers, and only one fit. I had wrote on it, 56 power glide car, and it fit the best. I thought they were all the same. now you know what I know. Even if it doesn't make sense, thats the way it went.
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