Question - Harmonic Balancer
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 510
Likes: 67
From: Weeki Wachee Fl.
A friend of mine up north bought his first corvette a 1967 roadster with the L79 eng. option. He was told he needed to replace the harmonic balancer. He ask me if the engine needed to be pulled to replace it.
I don't remember it's been 50 yrs. since I owner a 67 c2 roadster.
I don't remember it's been 50 yrs. since I owner a 67 c2 roadster.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 37,671
Likes: 1,115
From: CA
A friend of mine up north bought his first corvette a 1967 roadster with the L79 eng. option. He was told he needed to replace the harmonic balancer. He ask me if the engine needed to be pulled to replace it.
I don't remember it's been 50 yrs. since I owner a 67 c2 roadster.
I don't remember it's been 50 yrs. since I owner a 67 c2 roadster.
He can have his balancer rebuilt, that way its correct for his car...this is where i had mine rebuilt 12 years ago....they've been doing it many many years plus custom work...in my home town so i didn't have shipping...
https://damperdoctor.com/index.php?r...mation/contact
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 4,248
From: US-PNW
No need to pull the engine to remove and replace the balancer though removing the water pump is highly recommended given the tight space. I just finished a timing chain replacement with my '67 427 and had no issues doing it in the car.
Since the balancer and water pump are removed, now is also a good time to inspect the timing chain for looseness and whether it still has the nylon gear setup. To skip this step for the extra 10 minutes and $10-$15 gasket kit would be foolish.
I pulled the oil pan because I wanted to re-gasket that area, check the bearings, and see what debris was in the pan. In order to gain removal space for the pan, just remove the two idler arm bolts at the frame by the passenger exhaust manifold. The entire steering linkage will swing down enough to get the pan out. This way you're not wrestling with or beating on the various cotter pinned joints.
Since the balancer and water pump are removed, now is also a good time to inspect the timing chain for looseness and whether it still has the nylon gear setup. To skip this step for the extra 10 minutes and $10-$15 gasket kit would be foolish.
I pulled the oil pan because I wanted to re-gasket that area, check the bearings, and see what debris was in the pan. In order to gain removal space for the pan, just remove the two idler arm bolts at the frame by the passenger exhaust manifold. The entire steering linkage will swing down enough to get the pan out. This way you're not wrestling with or beating on the various cotter pinned joints.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 569
Likes: 176
From: Allentown PA
I did it without removing the WP on my 67 L79. Turned out that my balancer was not original and gave me an ominous intermittent knocking down low when it was slightly slipping off. I was VERY relieved to have the opportunity to chase down the correct one instead of a rebuild 
Last edited by bbxlr8; Mar 28, 2022 at 10:00 PM.
