I am resurrecting my old Fairlane. It had a 289 and I am swapping in a 302 from a 76 Granada. My question regards the balancers. I already checked and they use the exact same flywheel (same tooth count, dia., and bolt holes). I know there are two different balancers, 28oz and 50oz. It appears I have the 28 oz on both. I want to change the 289 balancer onto the 302 block (3 bolt pulley 289 to replace the 4 bolt pulley) so that all my accessorys line up. I already tried it on and all seems to go together well with no interference but the weight between the two balncers is different. The 289 is a lot lighter. If the balancers are the same imbalance does the weight of the unit itself matter? I just want to make sure. Thanks for your help in adavance.
Ditto on the timing marks. I think it was 1970 when Ford moved the water pump inlet and had to move the timing marks as a result. So the whole front end: timing gear cover and balancer must stay together. Water pumps will interchange. Tracy
I used one like that for years, and the timing marks were different. I just used a vacuum gauge to time it. It works better than a timing light.
The ford small block used the 20 counterweights on thr flywheel and harmonic balancers until mid 1985. After that they were 50 ounce. The only differece in the early ones were the width and the bolt pattren. I have the engine # swomewere wrere the change was made. Im will try to find it. It was the tag number that was on the intake.
I would go with a new one. The rubber in the old one can go bad and the balancer can come apart. There are some good ones at there for under $100.00
Thanks I was just looking at Summit. This motor won't be raced or anything and they have one for $75. It has an extra weight than can be bolted on in case I am wrong on my imbalance and spacers, etc.
You sure? Because according to page 80 of the 2006 Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog.... "Did you know... 1981-01 302 engines were built with a 50-ounce imbalance factor." Maybe you better call up Ford and thell them they don't know what they are talking about. It's '81 and up 302's ALL have 50 oz. dampners.
Yep - you can do it. It would probably work out best if you used the entire front setup from the early 289 - your timing marks will love you for it! Get a new one - as mentioned, the rubber gets dry rotted & heat cracked - the outer ring can slip or come off. Neither option is good. Might look at either using your 298 heads or finding some '68/69 302 heads (chambers look like hearts). The '70s heads were lower compression, poor ports, etc - smog years.
The engine runs good so I didn't really want to tear into it and pull the heads, etc. I just want a reliable runner to drop in for now while I build up the 289 for later. If I can drive it and move it I am more likely to work on it, and it needs alot of attention in other areas. I may change plans on the engine too. I know it will be weak but fast is what my Cutlass is for
You say a new crank, I think maybe there was a mixup with the crank and blancer, when it was built. The imbalance from what I have been reading and getting info from the HAMB and fordmuscle.com says that they used 28oz until 82 then switched to 50oz.
That is a good question. I got my info from the High Performance FORD 221-CID to 460-CID engine parts interchange book.
I have built sbf for 30 yrs and the 221,260 302 up to what ever you all decide and same for 351 all used 28 oz. i have matched ft covers to balancers for a while. the boss 302 is also a 29 0z and wider still, same as the hi-po 289.
tjm73. You are right I checked my OEM Ford parts cataloge. and it said up to 1980 is 28oz. and 1981-01 is 50 oz. That interchange book I have is misleading. It said. Beginning in 1985, the 5.0L enigne counterweighting was revised to 50 ounces. Keep this in mind whenever you're shopping for a harmonic balancer or flywheel. I found an E-mail address for them. I guess I will drop them a E-mail about there mistake.
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