Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

[Gregory L.]

Happy New Year Everyone!

Ok...this arrived today. I bought it about a month ago on EBAY....some of you may have seen it.....yeah.. i was the suck..I mean lucky buyer........now I'm poor.

I plan on using it for my 59 290 HP project motor.
How did I do?.......If this isn't correct...my next post will be from the great beyond.
I plan on bringing Thurs. to the NCRS Regional in Lakeland.

Greg

[Joe L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Greg------


It's the correct part number for the applications you mentioned and it appears to me to be of the correct configuration.

If 100% correctness is your goal, then it might be worth the tremendous amount you paid for it. However, you could have looked for a GM #3896904 and paid a whole lot less for it. It would not be 100% correct but it would be 100% functional. There are even some aftermarket balancers that are virtually identical to the 3896904 and they can be purchased on the cheap.

[Gregory L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Hi Joe,

thanks for the response.....I'm still shaking on this one. I guess I just wanted some emotional support that I at least bought the right thing. Coming from you that means a lot. My project goal is to build a 100% correct working model of the 59 290hp ....I know there are many parts that are interchangeable and then there are those specific to the high performance motor...like this one. I know this won't be easy or cheap....but I'm in no rush.
You should have seen the look on my wife's face when I showed her the xmas present she got me. Ugh. ....

[Loren S.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Greg, I think you did fine, that is a special balancer which looks quite a bit different than the functional replacement. Price per point might be a little out of wack, but there ain't nothing like the real thing.

[Gregory L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

I agree Loren,
plus it came in the original box with the red cardboard protector!
i not even sure it was ever used?.... how can I tell?
question now is should I send it to Dr. Damper to be refurbished?

[Dan B.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Looks like you had to put up a good fight to win this (several other like minded bidders so you paid what it was worth). It looks like the rubber is in new condition from what I can tell, no need to mess with it.

[Gregory L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Thanks Dan,
You just don't see that many in this condition ...so I figured go for it.
It literally looks almost new ...other than the two holes drilled but for all I know it came that way?
Not sure y it's red tho? Is that how it came?

[Rick G.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Gary,

Congratulations on a nice find! I believe the two holes are a result of balancing and are original to the balancer. I think the red paint was added by a previous owner. When I purchased my last balancer from Chevrolet in the early 70's it was natural cast/steel.

Rick

Thanks Dan,
You just don't see that many in this condition ...so I figured go for it.
It literally looks almost new ...other than the two holes drilled but for all I know it came that way?
Not sure y it's red tho? Is that how it came?

[Gregory L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Thanks Rick
I thought red was odd ....looks nice.

[Joe L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Thanks Rick
I thought red was odd ....looks nice.

Greg-------


Some GM parts were painted out-of-the-box and that included some balancers, especially some of those back in the "yellow-and-black" box days. I have no doubt this one was originally painted. Also, note the protector that was installed to shield the snout from paint. That's a factory-type piece.

The problem with this is that the paint rarely matches the paint on the engine and if you paint over it, the paint will appear too thick.

[Eric E.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Rick, Your assumptions are right, the holes are drilled during the manufacturing process. When they are machined they balance them so they are ready to install. Eric

Gary,

Congratulations on a nice find! I believe the two holes are a result of balancing and are original to the balancer. I think the red paint was added by a previous owner. When I purchased my last balancer from Chevrolet in the early 70's it was natural cast/steel.

Rick

[Ian G.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

yeah, I was bidding too. I've only ever seen two on eBay, this and another about 7 years ago and I've had a search running just as long. Someone was selling one on the DriveLine for about $1400, but that one was used like any you might find. Only ever seen this one in NOS condition. Congrats! I've got a very close approximation I had machined from a ChrisCraft GM marine Balancer. Cost me $350 total. I've posted about it here on the forum. Mine is identical except for a smooth machined underside... We'll see if I lose a point

[Gregory L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Thanks Ian....I'll let you how the divorce turns out. Lol
I actually took it the other day to the NCRS regional here in FL. I had quite a few people look at for emotional support and they did say it's NOS....so I guess I scored a coup.
While there I was able to grab all the HP FI parts for the generator assembly....including the 4' fan pulley for $100....!!! So that makes up for my pain a little.

[Ian G.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

It's definitely unobtanium. You might be able to get her to tear up the divorce papers with some Tahitian pearls. Worked for me

[Gregory L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer for the 59 270/290 HP

Lol
Actually truth b told ...she got for me as a Xmas present 🎁