The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Harmonic Balancer

I have a situation. I have a 261 cu that I had rebuilt and I am putting it in my '52 3100. The engine is longer than the original 216 cu so I have purchased the short water pump. When installing the short water pump my fan blade hits the harmonic balancer. After a little research I found out that I have the double pulley harmonic balancer. I would prefer to keep that balancer until later because I may want to add a/c or power steering someday. But for now I need to find a replacement harmonic balancer.
So, I have have the following questions:
will a 235 balancer fit on a 261? I would like to find a used one and get it rebuilt. Or does a 216 balancer fit on the 261?

Does anyone have balancer that they would like to sale?
Does anyone have any recommendations on where and how to get one rebuilt?

Thanks for any help.

A 235 harmonic balancer will fit. You can find them on EBay or someone like Obsolete Chevy Parts. www.obschevy.com They may have an NOS damper. Damper Dude is one rebuilder. You'll have to Google it. I think the business may have changed it's name, so you may have to search more.

If you're planning on adding p/s-a/c you want to hold onto the 2 groove balancer. A freshly modified 250 balancer set up with 2 grooves will run you better than $200.00.

You didn't mention what your fan diameter was but it might be less work to reduce the diameter of the fan you're running...if by chance you're running a 17".

Don't know if this will apply to your 261...but on my 1960 235 I cured all my cooling issues with an adaptor plate and an early 216-235 pump. I tried the "short-pump" route and had the same interference issues. The water pump adaptor plate moves the fan up to the top of the radiator which provides better air flow, gives me adequate fan/radiator clearance and with a 5 blade fan, clears the pulleys and my engine runs at thermostat temp even with the a/c.

If by chance your 261 has a similar setup as the 235 you might want to correct your current and potential cooling issues so that when you add the p/s and/or A/C you won't have to backtrack. I've got a fairly detailed photo documentation of the adaptor plate install in my webshots "shoebox" album. Hope this helps.

Dave

If you have the room between the fan and radiator, a fan Spacer is an option. I have 2 groove balancer on mine and that's what the PO did. Go to Summit racing or search fan spacers, they make these in various depths

My fan pully broke and who knows if the spacer is to blame or not.

Not sure how you plan to drive or use the truck but the 261 harmonic balancer is larger than the 235 for a reason. I would keep that balancer and run a smaller fan or add a spacer to the back of your fan to move it out slightly. I have a 261 in my 1950 3100 and moved the radiator ahead just a bit to make it all work.