Later '62 Solid Lifter Engine Harmonic Balancer

[Christopher R.]

The JG states that later (after 3/1/62) 62 mechanical lifter engines had their (8" finned) harmonic balancers retained by a bolt. What color was this bolt painted, if anything? If not black or orange, was it bare steel?

I can't find this bolt in the AIM. This leads me to believe that the bolt would have been installed at Flint when the engine was assembled and painted there. This makes sense because the balancer was also installed there. So the bolt would have got painted orange when everything else (including the balancer) got painted. Is this correct?

The AIM does show (Sect. 6, sheet 3) the pulley being added at St. Louis. In order to do this (after 3/1/62), the assembly line workers would have had to remove this balancer retaining bolt. Does that mean anything? Would they simply unscrew it, and put it back in? If so, the AIM should make mention of this. But maybe I've got a pre 3/1/62 version of the AIM. Or maybe this was an undocumented assembly line instruction.

[Dennis C.]

IMO/Orange *NM*

[Joe L.]

Re: Later '62 Solid Lifter Engine Harmonic Balance

chris-----

The bolt was installed at St. Louis. It's a zinc plated bolt of GM #3815933. You can still purchase this bolt under that original part number from GM for about 3 bucks, GM list. However, the current bolt has a cross-drilled hole in the head for safety wiring. I don't think that the original bolt had that feature. But, it may have.

This bolt is a non-indented head bolt of 7/16"-20 thread size, GM 300-M material (6 lines) and of 2-1/4" underhead length. It has a 1" thread length and a 1-1/4" unthreaded shank length, so it's not a "standard configuration" that you can purchase in a hardware store.

[Terry D.]

Re: Later '62 Solid Lifter Engine Harmonic Balance

Joe

You are right the original bolt did not have the safety hole in it. I remember very well drilling one in my first 62, an original car I bought from my dad, don't ask why I remember so well.

Terry

[Christopher R.]

Re: Later '62 Solid Lifter Engine Harmonic Balance

Terry,

Do you remember what color the bolt was? If it were orange, it'd really stand out against the black pulley.

I seem to remember that the bolt had a really thick and big washer underneath it.

[Verle R.]

Re: Later '62 Solid Lifter Engine Harmonic Balance

Chris,

I had a 62 FI in the early 60's, original. It had the big thick washer on the balancer bolt. Memory too fuzzy now to remember color. Could have been pink for all I remember now. Didn't care about colors, just wanted to go faster.

4.56 gear then 4.88. Not too much top speed but it got there quick!

Verle

[Terry D.]

Re: Later '62 Solid Lifter Engine Harmonic Balance

Chris

Yes it had a big flat washer under it, seems to me it wasn't painted any color, but that was a long time ago and I would not bet the ranch on it.
Terry

[Verle R.]

Re: Later '62 Solid Lifter Engine Harmonic Balance

I looked at a couple of the washers I have and they show not sign of ever being painted orange. I suspect they were pickled and looked black.

Verle