"Degree" Your Own Stock Small Block Harmonic Balancer

[dibbons]

I measured the circumference of my 318 balancer which worked out to 22 5/8" or 22 10/16" or 22 times 16 plus 10 = 362 sixteenths of an inch. Round off 362 to 360 and divide by 360 = 1. So each degree approximates 1/16" which makes it real easy.

So I can make various timing marks on the balancer just by using 1/16" for each degree. I plan to make marks for 0, 5, 10, 15 and 35 BTDC (35 for total advance desired). Don't really need the timing tapes they sell.

 

[rklein383]

I have done the same thing, works fine.

 

[Dana67Dart]

if you want super accurate take it to a machine shop and have them do it on a mill / lath

alternately you could use the OEM markings and index from there

What do you get for the diameter? Your numbers come out to be 7.20176 I thought they were 7.25 dia

anyway I like what you are thinking.

 

[dibbons]

I wrapped blue masking tape all around the balancer, removed it and stuck it down on a flat surface, then with a tape measure got the circumference measurement. Close enough for my work, I guess.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Close enough for my work, I guess.

probably, I agree. looks like 0.25 deg in 35 deg difference.

I did the same measurement on my 67 dart but came up with a larger number that worked out to 7.25 dia

 

[67Dart273]

You can double check your accuracy a number of ways. I use dividers, that is, once I get say, 20* marks, I use dividers to do the "10's" and you can reverse the dividers from each 20 mark to see if they land in the same place

You know how to use a piston stop? You can check the 90 marks same way as you did TDC with a stop to see that they are accurate---if you go that far. Or just "do" the 90 points with a piston stop. Check tdc. Now use dividers to divide the 90 and of course that gives you 45 and you can use that as yet another checkpoint

Frankly, I'm thinkin 1* accuracy is as close as you need.

First one I ever did was in the early 70's---the 340 that got swapped into the 70 RR --and I still have that balancer--somewhere, as well as most of the rest of the engine.