Revisit 59 290HP Harmonic Balancer

[Al R.]

OK, I've researched all the archives on the hi horse balancers for the 59-61. I have a 59 290 FI with the incorrect balancer. I see where the 3764318 is the correct as shown in th 58-60 JG . Does anyone have a good guess when the 57-58 3742986 balancer was phased out and replaced with the 318? My ser# is 4388 and like everyone else w/o the correct balancer, I'm looking the correct one. If I'm in the ser# range where I could use either the 986 or the 318 it could help narrow my search--just want to be correct for the amount one would cost. Any thoughts from the judges or those in the know. ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN ORIGINAL balancer for this engine. Thanks!!!

[Ian G.]

Re: Revisit 59 290HP Harmonic Balancer

The 318 come up about once or twice a year on eBay. Good luck. They cost about $750 last few times I've seen them sell. You'll be bidding against me You're better off just buying the repro for $350 and that may be what I do, or I'll just use the $50 dollar replacement and take the 1 point deduct. You'd need a pretty good judge to tell the difference on the repro since it's hard to get to. This is one of the worst point-to-dollars items you can buy, with an original jack prolly being the next worst.

[Loren L.]

Re: Revisit 59 290HP Harmonic Balancer

All the judge needs is eyes to detect the Goat Hill repo - 1st it's 1/2" extra diameter, but the giveaway is the holes in the outer ring - the original blueprint limits indentations for balancing to 1/4" deep, ie, no holes in the outer ring. And don't even pray for "service replacement" points.

[Ian G.]

Re: Revisit 59 290HP Harmonic Balancer

maybe better to go with the replacement for 50 bucks then... I tend to think it would only get caught at the regional or national level though. Depends on the judge of course.

[Al R.]

Re: Revisit 59 290HP Harmonic Balancer

Ian how long you been looking for an original?

[Ian G.]

Re: Revisit 59 290HP Harmonic Balancer

not long... year and a half? still not sure i want to shell out that kind of cash for something barely visible and for which i gain maybe one point over a replacement. it's wholly the cool factor of it....