Technical 1959 Chevrolet Balancer

Good evening

I own a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air with a 283. engine. I have to replace or repair the 62 year old harmonic balancer.
It is the balancer with the riveted hub design not the later, more modern style with an outer harmonic balancer ring.
Is there a replacement balancer I can buy, or a place that can repair the old balancer.
Thanks for any help
Herbert

 

These guys might be able to help https://www.damperdoctor.com/

 

My 2 cents run the later style.

 

Herb -
It's a "damper", NOT a balancer..!
Not one bit of "balancing" going on here on this engine.

Mike

 

Thanks jaracer

 

Ok. What is the different Mike? Always good to learn something

 

Wouldn't mind to get a later styl. Just not sure what damper will fit

 

Crankshaft & rotating assembly will have a resonance at a certain specific RPM, and also at multiples (harmonics) of that RPM.

This is bad. The crankshaft will actually twist a few degrees +/- back and forth. This is a torsional vibration. The outer damper weight is usually mounted in rubber, and it will absorb the resonance by leading and lagging the crank. It's rare but crankshafts can actually crack or even break. I would suspect things like rear main seal oil leaks and other problems might result from an undamped crankshaft. Some engines don't use them. I'm not smart enough to know why, but if one is included it's probably there for a reason.

 

the longer the stroke, the more twisting going on in the crankshaft, so the more damping it needs. The short stroke 283 doesn't need much damping, compared to a 350.

Getting yours rebuilt is a good idea. But you can buy a new damper for a 307 or 327 that is 6.1 inches in diameter, and will probably work ok...if the timing mark will line up ok? I don't remember exactly what diameter the one you have, is.

 

I would look at something like Summit's sum161350

 

check the dimensions first, that one's a bit larger than the one I suggested.

 

Thanks Squirrel. You mention the 350. So when I replace the engine to a 350 I have to get a different damper? There is not much room between the engine and the steering center link .

 

Mine old damper is only 6 inches

 

Damper dude is another one. Both are in California. Damper Dude turned mine around in 3 days and I was please with the price and workmanship on mine which was 3 years older than yours.

 

Won't be an issue. The smallest dampner, like your's, is 6". The largest for Hi-Po sbc's is only 8".
Tons of small blocks of all sizes have been stuffed into '59's. Bob

 

Thanks Jimmy

 

There are 6 " dampers out there but most are more money My question is there more than 3/8 inch between your timing tab and the 6" damper?

 

I can't tell. the damper is out and in the USA (Dale Manufacturing), but they can't rebuild the riveted hub style dampers. But the timing tab is only bolt on with 2 bolts so it could be replaced