A little background. I am swapping out a ‘54 235 for a’58 261 (235 has issues). I was initially planning on using the good wide groove short shaft water pump and the wide groove generator. I was going to use the balancer off of the 235 (thinking it was wide) but realized it was a mismatched narrow groove setup. What is my best and lower priced option?
Are wide groove balancers available?( I haven’t had any luck finding one yet). Or should I go with a narrow groove pump and swap pulley on the generator? Kinda wanting to keep the restored ‘46 as original as possible if its feasible.
235 passenger car engines used the narrow belt in 1954 (3/8"???) Truck balancers use the wide one. A 216 balancer will be a drop-in fit- - - -wide belt, small diameter for better fan clearance, etc. Drop me a private message- - - -we might be able to do some horsetrading. I have several wide groove balancers. I adapt 2-groove balancers for 250 six cylinders to a lot of the engines I build- - - -that requires some machining to make the pulley grooves line up.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
It was my understanding that the wide groove damper, water pump, generator were 261 items. I think the matching set you had before on the old 235 will all work on 261. But I think there may be an issue with the water pump style differences between 54 and earlier and the 55 and after designs. Jerry can fill in more blanks on that subject than I can.
I have a mis matched setup on my 235 currently. When I installed an alternator and power steering pump the pulleys for both are narrow grooved. The crankshaft pulley is a factory style wide groove. The 3/8 inch belt rides deeper in the wide groove. I questioned this at first, but after running the Truck this way for well over 6 months and having no issues I figure it really made no difference.
Last edited by TUTS 59; 03/13/20257:07 PM. Reason: Add Images
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
Got a horsetrade in progress- - - - -sending the right balancer out as soon as I get one cleaned up and inspected. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Thanks Jerry! Was nice having the balancer off to modify the cover for the front mount. Not meaning to change the topic on this thread, but are there actually 7/16 carriage bolts available anywhere? (Edit, after posting this I did see some on eBay if I wanted to buy a quantity,) Or could I just tack weld a standard hex head bolt in dropping it in from the top? Or would this not be a good idea to have them permanent? I could not tap loose the original ones in my 235 cover.
Last edited by rick46ia; 03/14/20254:31 AM. Reason: Added information
I'd suggest using 1/2" carriage bolts that are available at any hardware store, and file/grind the square shank to fit the hole if necessary. Some people believe that if they don't use the exact part number item, all their children will be born naked! LOL! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
