69 Z Harmonic Balancer or not ?

[69 Zee]

Hey guys,  Looking for answers.  I have a chance to grab up this balancer for peanuts.  Basically the guy was gonna pitch it.  Said it was off a 69 Camaro engine, all he knew.  I also grabbed up a set of flawless #3932418 valve covers for $100.  So now this has me wondering.

The balancer has all the making of an original Z balancer except I can't find the 7708M stamp anywhere..notta     It's 8 inches in diameter and 1-3/4 wide, has the offset timing index mark to the keyway also.  Doesn't look like a repop either.. at least not like all the ones I've seen.

What is it or could it be to and is it worth anything ? 

Thanks in advance for opinions

[bcmiller]

Does it have ANY numbers stamped on it?

[ZLP955]

Should have a casting number on the back (recessed) face.

[1968 Z28]

Looks exactly like my 1968 Z28 original balancer.  The offset is exactly the same offset that my balancer has.  The 1969 balancer has a larger offset....see this link for a photo of the difference between the 1969 & 1968 balancer.

     http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=356.0

My balancer has a date stamp on the front of the outer ring and a couple of letters on the back side of the inner hub...one of the letters is a "C" and the other letter I can't make out due to a hole drilled through it.

[69 Zee]

The only numbers I found were these on one of the the inside spokes.  I may be totally wrong but it appears that I'm seeing what looks like "F77 (threaded hole) part of a 0 and a 2.  I have found nothing more.  Again it looks to weathered to be a repro and I've never seen a repro look exactly like this.  Could it be from an early Vette ?

Thanks Jerry G... Yeah the timing mark does look like that of a 67/68.  Was there a stamped number on the front like the 69 (7708M) of any sort ?  and is this worth grabbing or are they pretty common.

[janobyte]

0ff my 04D 68, Z.   IMO ,yes, worth picking up if priced right.

[janobyte]

like on suggested link, notice my timing mark in relation to bolt holes...inline like yours.   67/68....lot more 69's built, just sayin


other applications ,couldn't tell you ,sure it's somewhere on the site.  KEEP in mind ,if you plan to buy/use it ,have it examined. Old worn balancers and high RPM's don't mix.

[bcmiller]

I believe the 69 Z28s and the high performance 350s in the early 70s used similar balancers.  Often difficult to tell the difference between the two.

[z28z11]

I know there is probably a disparity between NOS and production line parts (if nothing else, a time difference), but you can compare these two, a 7173 '68 and a 7708 '69. Both are 20-25 years old, and both are stamped in about the same location. I'd have to dig my original '69 out of the archives, but I don't remember a stamping on the face of the balancer.

Casting marks on the back are similar to the previous descriptions. Only the offset and the stamping (if they are) really set these apart.

I second the previous motion - buy it (especially if he's discarding). You can always have it rebuilt -

Regards,
Steve

[L78 steve]

I believe the 69 Z28s and the high performance 350s in the early 70s used similar balancers.  Often difficult to tell the difference between the two.

They were not similar, The 69 Z was a one year only with the 3 spokes extending to the rubber 7708 number. The 70 SHP did not. like pic. above.

[69 Zee]

Ok,  I see the difference now after I compared it to my 69 Z's balancer also.   So would it be safe to say this is a 68 Z's balancer ?  Did 68's have a number stamped on the front like the 69 (7708M) did or was it plain such as this one ?  Other than the degree index mark positioning it's a dead ringer to a 69.

[L78 steve]

The finned 327 Hi-po Dampener has the 3 long spokes also. What you have is most likely 67/68 302 if the timing mark is inline.

[69 Zee]

The timing mark is off line counter clockwise from the keyway.  Just not as far off line as the 69.  For what I can grab it for I'm gonna take it anyway.   

[JohnZ]

<< The timing mark is off line counter clockwise from the keyway.  Just not as far off line as the 69.  For what I can grab it for I'm gonna take it anyway. >>

That inertia weight has slipped a little bit - the pre-'69 timing index line was originally aligned perfectly (within 1/4 of a degree) with the keyway and bolt hole; see note below from the upper left of the damper drawing.