Is this harmonic balancer cover with timing marks fitted correctly on my 305 8" balancer ?

[Tynan918]

Anybody familiar with these ?

No mark on this cover lines up with the timing mark on the balancer...

 

[79 USA 1]

Understood...

Let me ask you this...

On all SBC harmonic balancers, the timing groove always lines up with the harmonic balancer keyway ?

No.
I found this on another web site that gives some insight.
The pre-1969 damper has the TDC line on the outer ring at the 2:30 o’clock position- or 2º before the keyway centerline- i.e. the line is to the LEFT of the keyway, looking at the front of the damper or engine. The keyway is seen in the ID of the damper nose.
The damper used from 1969 to about 1984 has the TDC line at the 2 o’clock position- or 10º before the keyway. You'll find that aftermarket dampers are the 10º type, as are the bolt-on tabs sold by the aftermarket, unless they're adjustable.
Warning Note: This includes the SBC 400, although the 400 damper is counterweighted because the engine is externally balanced. Do not mix and match internal and external balanced dampers!
A third timing mark was used from (some) 1978 to about 1995, and nearly all 1984-1995. It is at the 12 o’clock position- or 40º before the keyway. This damper uses a timing cover that has the tab welded on at about the 12 o'clock position. Professional Products lists the years for this type damper line as being 1984-1995 and is a 6-3/4” diameter damper.

 

[Tynan918]

No.
I found this on another web site that gives some insight.
The pre-1969 damper has the TDC line on the outer ring at the 2:30 o’clock position- or 2º before the keyway centerline- i.e. the line is to the LEFT of the keyway, looking at the front of the damper or engine. The keyway is seen in the ID of the damper nose.
The damper used from 1969 to about 1984 has the TDC line at the 2 o’clock position- or 10º before the keyway. You'll find that aftermarket dampers are the 10º type, as are the bolt-on tabs sold by the aftermarket, unless they're adjustable.
Warning Note: This includes the SBC 400, although the 400 damper is counterweighted because the engine is externally balanced. Do not mix and match internal and external balanced dampers!
A third timing mark was used from (some) 1978 to about 1995, and nearly all 1984-1995. It is at the 12 o’clock position- or 40º before the keyway. This damper uses a timing cover that has the tab welded on at about the 12 o'clock position. Professional Products lists the years for this type damper line as being 1984-1995 and is a 6-3/4” diameter damper.

Yea I'm familiar with this information... My engine is an 83-84 305... It's either noon or 2 o'clock...

Its on TDC now, timing cover and chain removed... Going to put on the balancer now and take a pic...

 

[Tynan918]

Yea I'm familiar with this information... My engine is an 83-84 305... It's either noon or 2 o'clock...

Its on TDC now, timing cover and chain removed... Going to put on the balancer now and take a pic...

I knew it ! I've been fighting trying to find my correct timing setting since July 2021

Whoever rebuilt this engine installed the wrong timing tab...which had 0° in the 2' o'clock position, thinking my correct timing setting was the 2 o'clock position...

But after setting TDC correctly with the timing cover off and chain set attached...and now putting the balancer on the crankshaft at TDC, I see now my timing mark (painted Red) is actually noon and not 2 o'clock... 😎...

Thanks you guys...

 

[Tynan918]

I knew it ! I've been fighting trying to find my correct timing setting since July 2021

Whoever rebuilt this engine installed the wrong timing tab...which had 0° in the 2' o'clock position, thinking my correct timing setting was the 2 o'clock position... View attachment 192002

But after setting TDC correctly with the timing cover off and chain set attached...and now putting the balancer on the crankshaft at TDC, I see now my timing mark (painted Red) is actually noon and not 2 o'clock... 😎... View attachment 192003

Thanks you guys...

That's why the balancer cover doesn't fit, I'm assuming... or...the timing mark slipped perfectly into the noon position lol...what are the odds ?

 

[Tynan918]

I'm reading you can use 7" or 8" between 305 and 350 except 400. Whichever one you decided to use for either engine, you would either need the correct timing cover for it, or the right aftermarket timing tab to use as TDC.

But originally 305 had the 7" and 350 had the 8"...

So I'm going to buy a 7" for my 305.

 

[monte olrac]

remember with the timing cover off and your timing set at dot to dot you timing is 180 degrees out fyi

 

[Tynan918]

Timing chain is installed...

The threads in the crankshaft snout may need rethreaded... When I attempted to install the new crankshaft gear with a harmonic balancer install tool and a galvanized steel pipe, the adapter that goes into the crankshaft kept backing out as I was tightening down...ended up just using the steel pipe and a 3 lb hammer to tap it the rest of the way...

 

[ELCAM]

That is a 3 groove crank gear are you going to advance the cam timing? You have it set to stock timing now.

https://www.cloyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/3-keyway-instructions-general.pdf

While the gears are timed TDC #1. Without the gasket on it place the timing chain cover on so the two pins hold it slide the new balancer on so it is on the keyway and mark where the timing mark is on the cover with a sharpie, That way you know if the pointer you install is correct.

 

[565bbchevy]

First get all of the old gasket material off the timing cover area

 

[ELCAM]

Good eye on the gasket remains.

Stuff rags in the oil pan opening when you do this, you don't need that crap in the oil pan.