The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 54' 235 harmonic balancer

I apologize if this has been answered 100 times before. I did some searching but couldn't find my answer.

I'm trying to pull my harmonic balancer off a 54 235 engine. The two holes in the front off the balancer aren't threaded and the center off looks like a giant phillips screwdriver. The other 5-6 bolt (???) holes look like giant nail heads. I'm stumped on how I get pressure on the balancer to pull it off.

most of the time you would use a puller... do you have a pix of yours, dont understand the ..the other 5/16 holes look like giant nail heads............

had one on my 235 to come off at high way speed, held on by centrifugal force and wood drift key...........some folks have the center drilled out and install correct bolt

I just looked at a loose H.B. i have and the holes ARE threaded,just not all the way to the front surface. Maybe 1/2 inch below.
Good Luck,

this should help
click here and read

Thanks. Got it off. Went to NAPA and bought a Harmonic puller. Now I'm stuck trying to pull out the camshaft. I got it half way out and it doesn't want to go any further. Got frustrated and called it a day.

On the cam ,The crank gets in the way of pulling the cam You'll have to turn the crank alittle so the cam clears the crank ,turn it alittle at a time and it will come out.

Pete

Be sure the fuel pump, distributor, and all the valve lifters are clear of the cam, also. Unless you're planning to replace the cam bearings, don't scrape the cam lobes across them. The gouges you create in them with the sharp edges of the cam lobes drop oil pressure in a hurry and starve the main bearings for oil.
Jerry

Is it possible that the crankshaft need to be turned a bit?

I seem to remember people talking about cam/crank interference if the cam timing gets off just a little, so there must be a very close fit in places. If the oil pan isn't off yet, pull it so you can support the cam and look for interference points as you remove it. Better to do a little more disassembly than to damage something by getting in a hurry!

Jerry

On the subject of drilling the crankshaft I had it done for my 235 using chevy short block 7/16 NF balancer bolt. Seems that the machine shop I used has done several, I was told that I would sleep better knowing that it won't have mind of its own and take flight. good luck with everything

Im with Jerry(hotrodlincoln). Go ahead and pull the pan and have a helper hold up the rear of the cam from the sharp lobes dragging across the bearings and scarring them up as you both slide it out.

I made up a drill/tap guide and balancer installing press screw setup so that job can be done without a complete engine teardown. It has made the rounds of several stovebolters, and it's available for a modest deposit/usage fee. There's one guide piece for the drill bit, and another for the 7/16-20 tap, plus a balancer-installing tool. It works on 216/235/261 6-cylinders, and early-style V-8's without center bolts.
Jerry

Thanks for your help. My problem with the Cam Shaft was the oil pump. I was unable to get at the set screw, so I thought I'd leave it in. Wrong answer. After I pulled the crank shaft, and removed the oil pump, the cam shaft slid right out. I've got it all torn apart down to the block. Now I need to find someone close by in Alaska to clean/inspect the block.