Why Won't My 454 Harmonic Balancer Fit?

[Slammed84]

@ Tx Firefighter

dude your avatar is awesome.

" what would I do with a million dollars? Two chicks at the same time man. Chicks dig money man, especially the kind of chicks that would double up on a dude like me."

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Slammed84

@ Tx Firefighter

dude your avatar is awesome.

" what would I do with a million dollars? Two chicks at the same time man. Chicks dig money man, especially the kind of chicks that would double up on a dude like me."

Few people get the reference where that picture comes from. I've probably met a dozen members off of here in real life who thought that was my actual picture. Glad to see I'm not the only guy who has seen that movie.

"Hey Peter man, watch out for your corn hole"

[Slammed84]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Few people get the reference where that picture comes from. I've probably met a dozen members off of here in real life who thought that was my actual picture. Glad to see I'm not the only guy who has seen that movie.

"Hey Peter man, watch out for your corn hole"

" gotta get up @ 6a.m. all week man. I'm doin the drywall down at the new McDonalds"

I Love that movie, don't wanna steal this dudes thread though and turn it into an office space quote thread.

why don't they make movies like that anymore?

I could quote that movie for hours

[savatreatabvr]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I was installing one today so I figured I'd snap pictures to show how easy it can be.

Push balancer on as far as possible by hand.



This is the tool. I bought mine from Summit years ago. Not expensive really.



Screw the tool into the crankshaft until it bottoms.



Now take a wrench and tighten the big nut. The silver deal next to the nut is a thrust bearing that removes the friction from the process.



Done.



Literally, from the time I had the tool in my hand until the time it was fully installed was 30 seconds max. No trauma, no drama.

The tool I picked up from Autozone didn't work because I think the threads on my crankshaft are stripped out, how in the F--k did that happen? I guess now I'll buy a tap and tap the threads one size bigger and get a bigger bolt! Not what I wanted to do!

[KQQL IT]

Drilled a SBC crank still together to this day.

[BigBlocksRule]

Reckon how they got 'em on back in the 50's and 60's before they started drilling holes in the end of crankshafts? A lot of the early smallblocks had nothing holding them on.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by BigBlocksRule

Reckon how they got 'em on back in the 50's and 60's before they started drilling holes in the end of crankshafts? A lot of the early smallblocks had nothing holding them on.

The inline six cylinder for years after that even (into the 80's).

A lot of folks here would crap little bricks if they knew that the standard procedure for harmonic balancer installation on 4.1L inline sixes in the dealership shop is to use a block of wood and a deadblow hammer. I used to watch guys do that frequently back in the early 90's when I worked at the local dealership as a mechanic. No threaded hole in the crank kind of lessens your options to choose from.

[BigBlocksRule]

^ the guy I hung out with would - when possible - stand the engine on it's butt so the crank flange was resting on a block of oak, then tap 'em home. I'm guessing he took the thrust out once and figured this out.
I've been trying to tell folks for years that the best way to install a cam is to stand the engine up and drop it straight in. Never nicked a bearing that way, it's soooo easy.

[savatreatabvr]

SUCCESS!!! I finally got the harmonic balancer on and the bolt tight! It fought me the whole way but after heating the HB in the oven and using the proper install tool it went on a lot easier. Since the crankshaft threads were a little stripped I had to start the bolt, tap the bolt head to the upper right, tight it about a 1/4" turn, tap it again and turn 1/4", tap again and 1'4" turn this went on for a quarter of the bolt threads until it finally felt right and tightened all the way! The HB bolt is a 1/2-20 bolt thread so there is 20 threads per inch of shaft so you can imagine how much of a pain in the A-- it was, lol! But no leaks and all is good! Thank you everyone for the awesome advice!!!