The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop harmonic balancer differences?

I'm a rookie so have mercy on me! I have a 55 235 that I am trying to get running. The engine reportedly came out of a dump truck. It has a large heavy balancer (that weighs seven pounds) with a messed up 1/2 groove pulley that someone welded behind it. I also have a 58 235 that is scrap. It has a small harmonic balancer (that weighs three pounds)with a 3/8 groove pulley that bolts to the front of it. It also has a short shaft water pump which is great. I don't understand why there is such a difference in the balancers since they are both 235 engines (verified by casting numbers). The 3/8 pulley will not fit on the heavy balancer. I have talked to a few local mechanics and have received opposing answers. Can I put the lighter weight harmonic balancer from the 58 engine on the the 55 engine or will it cause problems? The engine will be going in my 48 pickup.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I would think that if you are certain both motors are 235, and you have your years correct, the smaller balancer would fit on either motor. People did strange things to these old trucks when they were being used regularlly. Anything that would work, and keep it running was the attitude. It didn't need to be pretty.

My guess, and that's all it is, is that at some point, someone needed a balancer, had the monster one on hand, found it would fit, and put it on. Lord only knows what it came off of. It must have worked, and that is all they cared about. Allen

I forgot to mention, that you are going to need a bell housing from a 53 or older engine. It should bolt on the later model engine, but the newer housing had different motor mounts, and they won't bolt in the older trucks. Allen