C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

[Arthur T.]

My '58 harmonic balancer needs a rebuild. I have the original 584 balancer. It needs blasting an painting. The rubbers need to be replaced.

Two questions : These were semi-gloss when new. Does anyone have a good approximation of the black paint that should be used to refinish this part?

The rubber and rivets are available from Paragon. Does anyone have any idea how to replicate the "waffle" riveting tool used to rivet this assembly?

[Bruce B.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

You need to send the balancer out to a rebuilder. The rubber is not available as a replacement part, it has to be replaced by a professional.
A good rebuilder may be able to replicate the pattern on the rivet heads

[Arthur T.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

You need to send the balancer out to a rebuilder. The rubber is not available as a replacement part, it has to be replaced by a professional.
A good rebuilder may be able to replicate the pattern on the rivet heads

Paragon sells the rubber and the rivets as a kit. I do not know how accurate these parts are, having not seen them in person. Paragon also offers a rebuild service. Again, not having seen one of their rebuilds, I cannot offer any opinions about the quality or fidelity of their work. Informed opinions of this sort are welcome. The names of competing rebuilders are welcome as well.

That being said, I have the tools to rebuild the part myself, except for the unusual upsetter with the waffle pattern. Any comment from a rebuilder about how to do it properly would be welcome.

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

Paragon sells the rubber and the rivets as a kit. I do not know how accurate these parts are, having not seen them in person. Paragon also offers a rebuild service. Again, not having seen one of their rebuilds, I cannot offer any opinions about the quality or fidelity of their work. Informed opinions of this sort are welcome. The names of competing rebuilders are welcome as well.

That being said, I have the tools to rebuild the part myself, except for the unusual upsetter with the waffle pattern. Any comment from a rebuilder about how to do it properly would be welcome.

I bought the kit and rebuilt my balancer for my 1960. The key is having a press. I have a 20 ton press and it was no problem. The rivets have a step or shoulder stop that sets the depth for pressing so that you don't over-squeeze the rubber. The hardest thing is peening the rivets. I tried an rivet air hammer, but I ending up doing most of it with by hand with a ball peen hammer. I did not try to replicate the hash markings on the rivets.

Don

[Arthur T.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

I bought the kit and rebuilt my balancer for my 1960. The key is having a press. I have a 20 ton press and it was no problem. The rivets have a step or shoulder stop that sets the depth for pressing so that you don't over-squeeze the rubber. The hardest thing is peening the rivets. I tried an rivet air hammer, but I ending up doing most of it with by hand with a ball peen hammer. I did not try to replicate the hash markings on the rivets.

Don

Don,

Thanks for your reply. I have a 20 ton press, sandblast cabinet, etc. My balancer has a lot of rust on it.

Did you refinish the two wheels of your '60 balancer? If so, what kind of finish did you apply?

NCRS judging guide says the balancer was painted with the engine assembly, implying that it should be Chevrolet engine orange. I do not think this is correct. I am 100% certain my balancer is original and the portions of it that are not rusty are semi-gloss black, similar to the fan belt pulley that was bolted to it. The timing notch was highlighted in white at some point, though I question how original that bit is.

Thanks again,
Art

[John H.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

NCRS judging guide says the balancer was painted with the engine assembly, implying that it should be Chevrolet engine orange. I do not think this is correct. I am 100% certain my balancer is original and the portions of it that are not rusty are semi-gloss black, similar to the fan belt pulley that was bolted to it.

Art -

The JG is correct - the balancer was installed on the engine prior to painting at Flint V-8, along with the early riveted-on crank pulleys; photo below was taken on the Flint V-8 shipping dock in 1955. The later bolted-on crank pulleys were installed at St. Louis, and were flow-coat primed semi-gloss black.


55V8Shipping800.jpg

[Joe M.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

Donald, on your 60, is the harmonic balancer large wheel solid or does it have holes around the perimeter (flat face) of it? Apparently mine was rebuilt some time in the past and the original was replaced with one that has holes. Flight judge informed me that it should not have holes around the perimeter of the large wheel.

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

Don,

Thanks for your reply. I have a 20 ton press, sandblast cabinet, etc. My balancer has a lot of rust on it.

Did you refinish the two wheels of your '60 balancer? If so, what kind of finish did you apply?

NCRS judging guide says the balancer was painted with the engine assembly, implying that it should be Chevrolet engine orange. I do not think this is correct. I am 100% certain my balancer is original and the portions of it that are not rusty are semi-gloss black, similar to the fan belt pulley that was bolted to it. The timing notch was highlighted in white at some point, though I question how original that bit is.

Thanks again,
Art

I painted mine with self etching black primer after I cleaned up the parts, then put it together and painted with engine orange paint.

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

Donald, on your 60, is the harmonic balancer large wheel solid or does it have holes around the perimeter (flat face) of it? Apparently mine was rebuilt some time in the past and the original was replaced with one that has holes. Flight judge informed me that it should not have holes around the perimeter of the large wheel.

Mine looks like the one on page 74 of the TIM & JG. No holes in the outer ring.

[Arthur T.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

Art -

The JG is correct - the balancer was installed on the engine prior to painting at Flint V-8, along with the early riveted-on crank pulleys; photo below was taken on the Flint V-8 shipping dock in 1955. The later bolted-on crank pulleys were installed at St. Louis, and were flow-coat primed semi-gloss black.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]42478[/ATTACH]

John,

Do you know what sort of upsetter GM used to set the rivets in these early harmonic balancers? The rivet tails on the low horsepower balancer face forward and an energetic judge with a flashlight who might be looking for extra holes in the outer wheel of the balancer can see them. I'd like them to look similar enough to the original 'waffle' shop heads to pass muster.


Art

[John H.]

Re: C1 Harmonic balancer rebuild question

John,

Do you know what sort of upsetter GM used to set the rivets in these early harmonic balancers? The rivet tails on the low horsepower balancer face forward and an energetic judge with a flashlight who might be looking for extra holes in the outer wheel of the balancer can see them. I'd like them to look similar enough to the original 'waffle' shop heads to pass muster.


Art

Art -

No, I don't - the balancers were made by outside suppliers. The two outfits in Redding, CA that have been rebuilding them for years probably know.