429 harmonic balancer?

[jrjmac1]

I have a 1968 429 that doesn't have a harmonic balancer on the crankshaft. Is this because it is internally balanced? or is it missing?

If I can put one on, do I use a neutral one? I need to check if there is a keyway and pulley alignment problems involved. I need the balancer for timing as well.

Any help is appreciated.

[Woodz428]

Any 429/460 harmonic damper should work. In '79 they went to an external balance, but there is a "hatchet" behind the damper and a weight on the flywheel. A harmonic balancer is not a weighted object always, their primary purpose is vibration "damping" as the name implies.On the 429/460 it isn't, on some Fords it is but not the 385 series.

[ByronRACE]

I've seen 385 series fords without dampers, but unless you have a reason to do so (like driving high loads off the crank, like a giant roots blower or something), I'd run one.

No matter how good the balance job, the crank will still be subject to harmonic vibration. The damper is a mass/spring system that absorbs the vibration and makes life easier on the internals, bearings, etc. It's worthwhile.

B

[jrjmac1]

Thanks for the response...I'm trying to find a balancer that will work with a March serpentine pulley system, alignment etc.

Thanks again,
jrjmac1