Big block harmonic balancer removal
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
Big block harmonic balancer removal
I may have to remove the harmonic balancer from my 72' 454 and was wondering if anyone has any experience with removing the balancer with the engine in the car. For those of you who don't know, the big block balancer resides very close to the cross-member and I'm not convinced it can be removed without jacking the engine up a small amount (ugh). I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has performed this task.
Thanks,
Mudbone64
Thanks,
Mudbone64
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
With the crank pulley removed you should have enough room to get the balancer off of the crank snout. The hardest part will actually be the articulation of the wrench and ratchet on the removal tool. Should work fine though.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
I have removed the crank pulley and let me tell ya, it's gonna be close! I just hope the boys at GM did more than just clearance the cross member for the pulley. Hopefully they clearanced the cross-member for harmonic balancer removal as well. If the balancer does clear the cross-member it will be by the slimest of margins.
I appreciate your response.
Mudbone64
I appreciate your response.
Mudbone64
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: In the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA
The balancer hub will come out without lifting the engine, but even if it didn't, raising the engine 1" off the mounts isn't difficult. Make sure you check that balancer for separation movement of the outer hub against the inner hub. The rubber deteriorates badly and allows rotation. How do I know? Have a look.....
The bad hub is on the left (big block). Notice where the factory line is in relation to where it should be. (marked with a dab of white paint) In my case the outer hub had rotated nearly 2". You can only imagine how poorly the engine would run if you tried to set the ignition timing with a hub like this one (which, obviously, someone had tried previously)
Steve
The bad hub is on the left (big block). Notice where the factory line is in relation to where it should be. (marked with a dab of white paint) In my case the outer hub had rotated nearly 2". You can only imagine how poorly the engine would run if you tried to set the ignition timing with a hub like this one (which, obviously, someone had tried previously)
Steve
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
The balancer hub will come out without lifting the engine, but even if it didn't, raising the engine 1" off the mounts isn't difficult. Make sure you check that balancer for separation movement of the outer hub against the inner hub. The rubber deteriorates badly and allows rotation. How do I know? Have a look.....
The bad hub is on the left (big block). Notice where the factory line is in relation to where it should be. (marked with a dab of white paint) In my case the outer hub had rotated nearly 2". You can only imagine how poorly the engine would run if you tried to set the ignition timing with a hub like this one (which, obviously, someone had tried previously)
Steve
The bad hub is on the left (big block). Notice where the factory line is in relation to where it should be. (marked with a dab of white paint) In my case the outer hub had rotated nearly 2". You can only imagine how poorly the engine would run if you tried to set the ignition timing with a hub like this one (which, obviously, someone had tried previously)
Steve
Thanks,
Mudbone64
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: In the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA
Given the appearance of the balancer (the outer hub looks like it has moved inward toward the engine) I would think there may have been some vibration. But I never heard it run; it was checked by someone else.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
I may have to remove the harmonic balancer from my 72' 454 and was wondering if anyone has any experience with removing the balancer with the engine in the car. For those of you who don't know, the big block balancer resides very close to the cross-member and I'm not convinced it can be removed without jacking the engine up a small amount (ugh). I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has performed this task.
Thanks,
Mudbone64
Thanks,
Mudbone64
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
Thanks again,
Mudbone64
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
I've had this balancer off before but the engine was out of the car. You are correct about the muscle required to remove the balancer. I have but one question: can I borrow your son? Well if I can't use your son then I'll just have to use my own. My son's name is Impact! Thanks for letting me know the balancer will clear the cross-member.
Thanks again,
Mudbone64
Thanks again,
Mudbone64
