Thread: Harmonic Balancer -- Stripped

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I am about finished with this engine. I have it back in and got everything hooked up to it. Put an alternator on it and then went to put belt on it. That is when I noticed the belt line was off a bit between the crank pulley and the water pump. I noticed the hamonic balancer was off slightly and just figured he had not installed it all the way on. When I got my installer out it would not go in it. On closer examination I noticed the thread are buggered up on the inside. It there anyway to fix this? Can I re-tap a slightly larger thread? What should I do? The guy I bought it from has disapeared. If I could just get the harmonic balancer in the right place i would be done with this project.

I just went back out and checked and it looks like only the first 4-6 threads are striped out. Think I can grease up tap and run it through?

You did not give alot of info on the 350 like what year is it etc etc..

Is the 350 a stock engine, slightly mod, moderately mod, extremely mod, full blown....

The local Auto Zone sell harmonic balancers starting around 50 dollars

I'd run the same size tap through the threads and find a longer bolt. I had the same problem with the 318 in my Duster. Re-tapped the crank snout and found a longer bolt.

Gent, maybe I should have clarified. It is not the harmonic balancer that is stripped but the threads in the crank snout as NTFDAY stated. The threads that allow you to mount the balancer on. I have the proper tool But can't get it in there. I am headed out today to find a tap the same size and see if I can get enough thread to bite when I thread the tool in. If not i may have to thread up one size and get a longer bolt. Any other ideas?
Oh yeah the engne is only slighty modified.

might try a thread chaser first and then a bottoming tap. Maybe a bolt 1/4 inch longer. measure depth first then decide on extra length on bolt.

I did the same thing tap and clean it out try a longer bolt but make sure its not too long but can catch some of the unstripped thread that loctite thread repair 2 part epoxy has worked nice for me use loctite blue and dont torque it hard just snug make sure the matchining mating surface and key on the crank and balancer isnt catching and binding and use lube mine has stayed on but i hate to see fly off QQ

amen reborn a bottoming tap would be great you can get them from enco or travers tools or maybee sears

You know, after reading this thread, I think the next engine I build, I'll chase the threads and install a stud. I've never done it, but it suddenly seems like a good idea.

Originally posted by DennyW
I'm just going to beat mine on, and weld it. Run it till it drops,

Thats funny, btw I have a triple roller timing made out of titanium for sale so you wont ever have to worry about removing the balancer hehehehehe

We just need to get all of our parts made from unobtanium, then we'll never have a problem

Originally posted by DennyW
I'm just going to beat mine on, and weld it. Run it till it drops,

Well Denny, I got tired of messing with it and took your advice. I won't have a problem with it done the road will I?



I got it on. Chased the thread back out and luckily had enough left for the Installer to grab. Lube everything real good and took my time. It eased right on.

Thanks for the help and advice.