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- Carter Dual 4-Barrel Carburetor Adjustment
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- Buick Cam Specifications for 401 and 425 nailheads
- Buick Cams from Kenne Bell, 401, 425
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Thread: 401 Balancer

  1. #1
    new2buicks Guest

    401 Balancer

    Hi everyone! Me and my dad are restoring a 63 Riv from the ground up. Everything is going fairly smoothly except that we have run into a problem with the harmonic balancer on the 401 Nailhead. I have learned that the number 1 cylinder on these engines is the right (passenger) front, a little different than the SBC in my Camaro. And this makes sense with our new timing chain installed "straight up". The problem is this: when the number 1 cylinder is at TDC (on compression, dots line up on the timing set, valves are both closed) the 0 degree mark on the balancer is about a third if a turn back from the pointer! It's actually almost at the very bottom of the revolution. So here is my question: Do we have the wrong balancer? Does anyone have the casting numbers for a '63 401 Nailhead balancer? This one has "1355423" cast into it. I was thinking this may be a damper off a different size Nailhead, 322/364/425. I dont think it would be possible for the outer ring to have turned nearly 1/3 of the way around. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    palbuick Guest

    Harmonic balancer

    According to Buick parts book the Harmonic balancer from 1959 to 1966 401 and 1963 to 1966 425 motor are the same part number Gr 0.659 # 1356957.
    The parts book dose not show any casting numbers.

    Jim Schilf
    palbuick

  3. #3
    James,

    There were some different part #s for balancers in the earlier parts books (according to Todd on this site) that were combined into one part # in later parts books. We thought this pointed to a slightly different balance between them (not sure). Why have different part #s otherwise? Casting #s also have differences, but that dos not necessarily mean anything. I think the flexplates were the same story. I suggest balancing the engine as standard procedure when not using the original balancer or flexplate.
    Steve B.



    67 GS 525 Buick Stage IV
    66 GS Convertible
    65 GS HT
    63 Riv
    02 Subaru WRX Turbo
    03 Ford Cobra Convertible (Factory Supercharged)

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