inline sixers: harmonic balancer question

[cell]

I have finally found a vendor who sells new aftermarket harmonic balancer replacements for the inline 6 cylinder engines. However, I am uncertain of which one I should get.




I have a 1967 292. Steve's specialty parts lists a balancer for the 292, but it is for years 1975-1989. He also lists two balancers for the 250, one of which is for 1967-1971.

Does anyone know if the balancers where the same for the 250 and the 292? I am sure any of them would be fine for eliminating harmonic resonance, but the pulley spacing appears to be different on all of them.

[shifty]

i got mine from Napa for less than $100.

[shifty]

Just looked again. It's $72.49 at NAPA, part number BK6005204.

You may need to go to the store and ask about the application. You can try to find it at their site:

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...spx?PageId=421

Pick your vehicle. Go to the "keyword search" on the left and lookup "Harmonic Balancer". When you click the link in the results it will ask you the engine size. I couldn't get a 292 to show for 67 or 67 half or ¾ ton pickups.

[Fred T]

The 292 has heavier crank counterweights, the stock balancer is different.

I looked them up at AZ, they're higher than Napa. And no 292 balancer.

[cell]

thanks guys

[shifty]

what about getting one of those Rattler balancers from Summit?

[Tx Firefighter]

I had to go through this with my 292.

Aftermartket 250 balancers are a stocking item at any AutoZone. They run 60 bucks or so.

292 balancers are different than 250 balancers though. If you look hard, you can find an aftermarket balancer made by Dorman Products, part number DOR-594-031 for about 75 dollars. It is cataloged to fit 75-90 model engines only.

I called my buddy at the GM dealer parts department. GM still sells a new 292 balancer and it too catalogs as 75 through 90 applications. However, GM states that the balancer directly supercedes the earlier model balancer part number. That means it will replace the earlier one directly. The difference is that the 75-90 balancer has only 2 pulley grooves, while the earlier ones had three grooves. In my case, I only needed 1 groove anyway, so it didn't matter at all to me if it had 2 or 3 grooves.

[cell]

Ha! mine only has two grooves as it is! I wonder if mine was replaced at some point.

Thanks Tx!

[4x4Poet]

Originally Posted by shifty

what about getting one of those Rattler balancers from Summit?

I didn't realize TCI made a Rattler for GM I6 engines, but when I checked their site, there it was for V6/I6:
http://www.tciauto.com/rattler.htm

[cell]

Well, I looked on advance auto parts' website today, and this time I found the Dorman referenced in the above post (link). Nothing comes up for the '67; you have to search using a vehicle from 1975 through 1990.

It was listed as $92 on the website, but when I went to my nearest store location it came up as $130. The clerk did say that I could get the $92 price if I printed out the webpage and brought it in with me, but I opted instead to volunteer as a guinea pig and do a little research for the board.

There is another balancer listed for 1975-1990 292's, made by Pioneer, part number DA292 (link), which sells for $77. From the pictures on the website, it appears to be identical to my existing balancer. When it comes in, I will post here and let you guys know if it fits.

[cell]

by the way, I called a GM dealership, and while they do have a balancer for a 1975 through 1990 292, they want $302 for it

[mbgmike]

Yeah The 292 Balancers And The 250 Are Not The Same. We Sell The Same Yrs 75 Up For A 292. We Will Look Into It More

[PICKMUP]

The 250 & 292 balancers for 75+ engines have the belt grooves spaced much further apart, so if you try to run PS, it won't line up.

The correct 292 balancer for our trucks seems to be a huge cast 3-groove part, while the 250 is usually a one or two groove smaller part.

I have had several 292s with both the big & the small balancer. I just don't know if the small one ever really came on the 292s, or if several people just added them.

[69_hafton]

Cell - I've got the Pioneer DA292 balancer and used it to replace a 3 row on my '73 292 engine. I got mine thru Clifford Performance (it's not on their web site), and they said that it would work. $77 sounds very reasonable, and Clifford's didn't itemize the invoice they sent me, so I don't know the exact cost, but I'm almost positive it was more than that...

[PICKMUP]

If you take a look at teeitup's new post on the parts board, you will see a 292 with the smaller 2-groove balancer. I have seen several of those now, so I believe they must be correct.
They sure look a lot better than that huge 3-groove hunk of iron.

[cell]

well, the pioneer balancer came in today and it was identical to the old one, so it should work fine. I'll post some pics later this evening.