Balancer Differences Ford Small Block 

Harmonic balancers are pretty exciting when the ring comes off the hub. Once was enough for that. You're a wealth of information on these Fords. I always learn something, and I've been around Fords all my life.

351w never made the switch to 50oz, stayed 28 all the way through.

Great explanation sir. Thanks for clearing all that up.

Some great information. Love Ford's inconsistencies. My 67 Mustang is right there on the switch between early 67 and late 67 changes. Makes it fun sometimes getting parts.

thank U so MUCHHH! I had this exact problem here in Brazil with my 302 mustang. It had a ford maverick 280z harmonic balancer and the correct one is 500z. The video really helped me to figure out this bad vibration on the engine.

Thank you for the great info

I had a '61 Ranchero when I was a teenager. The car in the background reminded me of it.

Good info. Dad bought a 84 Bronco w/o an engine and he put a 69 351w in place of the 302 and drove it for a few years with a terrible vibration. I remember when he changed the flexplate to the 28 Oz and smooth as butter. Me now put together a 302 clevor w/ aussie closed chamber heads using 84 302 HO and found out that the mustang flywheel didn't have all the necessary teeth making no start till I found a f150 flywheel. Can make your head hurt but that is what Goody powders are for.😁

The post '69ish water pumps had a longer snout with deeper dish pulleys so the correct pulleys have to be used to have any chance of belt alignment.

I've said many many many times..... when you are doing this kind of stuff. Ford will separate the Men from the Boys in a hurry. And it's because of this kind of stuff. Ford you have to Know what you have........ not what you Think you have, or you end up with a lot of returns, or shelves full of (maybe one of these will turn up) parts. Great video as always man!

I was all excited to run out to my garage and check my Falcon to see which one I have and then I remembered that I put it in storage last weekend.

I think more people than we thought scratch our heads over balancers. My 390fe has the same problem. 1967 block had a real thin one. Was told it’s also used on the 427. My research put it on the straight 6. Ugh. Lol

interesting and fun video! I am building a Heinz 57 junkyard mutt 302 ranger and getting everything sorted out has been a hassle. all your information has been helpfull and enteraining BUT it was difficult to extract actionable data from it. perhaps put it on a spreadsheet or table??

I'm using a Professional Products #80046 ,has 3 different bolt patterns and degree etchings and removable weights. If you have a SBF basically it works, Besides many vintage balancers have cracked rubber and can come apart

i had to line up the pullies on a 302 powered 69 mustang including making one for the new alternator.... its wasnt easy or fun then we got a new second had 2 belt water pump pulling that i had to space forward just over an 1/8 engineers just can't leave shit well enough alone.

Stock, I read all 351w are 28oz. I bought a new an ATK 351 for my 86 bronco and used the stock flex plate and new 28oz balancer. Seems smooth as can be.

Great vid ! Thanks for the clarification. Question: Are the flexplates the same (as in the balance weights) from the early 302 to the post 81-ish models ? I assembled an '87 5.0 ... that after watching your video has the correct 50 oz. balancer. I have a vibration at idle that seems slightly excessive but completely goes away at about 1500 rpm, so am wondering if I somehow have the incorrect year flexplate (?) because I built the final engine from 2 pre 80's 302's and 1 87 hydraulic roller motor.

So if I have a 164 tooth flywheel What once balancer do I go with

i'm having trouble with a new scat stroker engine that i put in a 289 with a Luk 451 flywheel(28OZ) and a harmonic balancer from dorman i think (i think its 28OZ) bu t i have vibrations when not driving just reving past 2000rpm . i have bought another 28OZ flywheel from pioneer and it still vibrates. can a dorman balancer been bad balanced and give me these vibrations? my engine runs on 8 cilinders5see this on the spark plugs) nice video thanks

I picked up a short block 302 , turns out it a 72 302 block with 289 hipo rotating assembly the balancer was off thick one . Question is there any other other balancers or gears that make the hipo , making sure I have all the parts?? Any info would be appreciated.

I have an 87 Mustang LX with 160k on it...only owner. I'm currently replacing the TC, TC cover, and the balancer while I'm there (still looks decent). What's with the small pin that's in one of the holes of the old balancer? My Haynes manual, which covers 78-93 model years, says to swap any pins from the old balancerto new one. The pin was not budging from the old one at all using a 5 lb sledge and punch, so I bought a cold rolled steel rod and made one using a hacksaw. Was this really necessary? I don't see how that little pin could make any difference.

Later 50oz explorer balancers had an intergrated crank pully with tone ring on it.

Veeeeerry interesting, now I have a headache.

I have a supposed to be 89 302 . The balancer i removed slide off . It measured 1.394" on the i.d . The crank measures 1.374" ish . I bought a new balancer from advance auto and it measures 1.974". Engine ran good . Help!

will 3 bolt and early 4 bolt balancers interchange

I'm going to stick with the Fluid Damper that was on my 351C that I just purchased. The flywheel and crank flange has been marked so the engine must have been balanced???

Somewhere I read that all the 351W were 28oz weight. I was looking for a 28oz flexplate for my 1966 289 with an AOD. The 1990 351W says 164 tooth and 28oz.

I'd post a picture if I could, another variable Ford threw in there is the EEC-III ignition system. It had a crankshaft position sensor that sensed 4-pointed star points that were on the harmonic balancer in the early 80s(ish) that triggered the ignition system, along with a throttle position sensor on the carburetor. Don't believe me? Google Motorcraft 2150 carburetors with a throttle position sensor.

Hey guys I am using a 1996 ford explorer 5.0 engines in my project My question is can I run a 1990 - 1993 mustang 5.0 harmic balancer because it is different From the explorer and what fly wheel do I need. I want to use the 90-93 front accessories if I can . thanks

Clear and concise-ish.

What about the 1996 F-150/Bronco 302, is there any way to add the 4-point tone ring to a 1992-95 balancer? The '96 balancers are not available, the only option is to repair them. If you install the regular balancers from 92-95, you'll have a check engine warning (misfire).

If I buy 81 ish up 351w block w/50oz and buy an internally balanced crank... should I stll run the 50oz imbalanced flex and harmonic balancer. Do they internally balance to that imbalance? Thanks guys. All your videos are fun and educational!!!

Q: What about the timing marks locations? Also the affect on pulley locations? To go along with left or right input water pumps

I have a 1968 ford 302 out of a Econoline Van and it has a 4 hole harmonic balancer and I put a 1998 ford crown vic front drive system and it fit fine with no problems

Hey, what’s up brother my question is, im having a remanufactured 302 built for my for my 91 crown Vic and I asked them to balance it do I need to give them the original harmonic balancer, and flywheel, so that it is in sync with my AOD torque converter? Thank you for the response. Dig the channel by the way. 🇺🇸👍

i wish you would have covered cleveland. I think its the same as a the 70ish ones.

Here’s my issue. I bought a basket case. The block has an E0 date on it. The balancer appears to be a 50oz. with the thicker outer ring but it has 3 bolt holes for the pulley. It kinda throws me off by connecting with the 3 bolt scenario that you mentioned. It doesn’t have the pie shaped weight. Do I have a 50 oz. ? I’m wanting to use my Fox body flywheel to go with a T-5. I just don’t want to proceed further until I’m sure. I must have an “ish” engine. Help!

What would cause the vibration on a 1987 ford 302 and it has the 50 Oz harmonic balancer and the flexplate is 50 Oz and we changed harmonic balancer and changed flex plates again its a new blueprint reman 302

Oh boy. Just like you i was trying to do some research on this one myself. Talk about confusing and frustrating. But not really in the way anyone is thinking. Here's what i was thinking. Late model 5.0 probably from a explorer. Remove the GT heads and replace with a mildly ported cast iron or off the shelf aluminum. Because the GT's don't fit a 66 mustang without some serious money headers (which i don't have) mind you i don't even have the funds for aluminum cylinder heads. OK well now we get to the meat of it. Keeping my original C4 but trying to locate a flexplate to fit the 5.0 was frustrating. Maybe i was missing something? But when was able to find something that might work holy moly the amount of money was expensive for it. A balancer for the 5.0 is available if you want to keep using the three bolt style, but once again it's kinda pricey. But i finally found what i was looking for and instead of $300-$400+ it's instead somewhere around $170, Much better. Sorry that i got off topic strictly a backyard car guy, but it does clear up small issue that i was wondering about. Thank you.

Which balancer is used on 66 an up 289 ford engines 2 varrel carb.

Owning a new build 351w from 1969, would I need to change the harmonic pulley if installing a manual gearbox instead of the c4 automatic?. Is the trick to get a 69 flywheel for the manual?. Thanks, all the way from Denmark 👍👍

I work on a 65 that has an E0 block that has a 50oz "80, also 50 oz blocks have one piece rear main seals. So ish is about right, lol.

Funny!!! My 79 F150 302 after some engine tear down, I found it to have a 81 engine with a 50 oz vibration damper. It was verified by damper dudes.

I'm work a 69/70 mustang with 351c engine ,it has 3 holes & no groves ?

I have a 5.0L from a 2000 explorer to use in a '40 ford. I need to run just the water pump and alternator. Has anyone done this? I'm lost right now.

Hey man, always enjoyed your videos...and comedy. What are your thoughts on 347 balancing. Some say its not possible with stock 50 oz balancer and yet i have one in my Fairlane from an 84 Mustang. Tnx.

I recently bought a 1995 Ford Mustang with a 5.0 L how do I know what flywheel to put on it?

Dealing with this now lol

They stopped producing the harmonic balencers for the 302 96 ford f150. Is it possible to get away with substituting it with a 95 302 harmonic balencer?

Jeff since you brought up a 1985 5.0 .They did not have the same firing order as the early 289/302 did. They had a different camshaft. I wish I still had my 1985 Ford Mustang GT that I bought brand new.

The harmonic balancer for the f 150 1996 5.8 Windsor can't find it in the auto parts whith the tone ring, o pulse ring whatever the name is can't get it is discontinued

Ford used a 28 oz. balancer on the 220,260, 289 windser engines, however in 1963, Ford built what was called the "Special" engine. This became known as the HIPO 289. This engine has a completely different balance from the standard 289/302 engine. The balancer was a 30.4 oz. unit. Also there was a small balancer behind the timing gear. and the engine had a nickel crankshaft and 3/8" rod bolts. ( the reason for the 30.4 balancer and flywheel which you can identify by a ground area with a hardness test mark. So, actually Ford made 3 differenct balances between 1962 and 1981.

So.... my '73 Mach 1 Mustang with 351C 2V has had a very mild, harmonic vibration since I have owned it, noticed sitting in park, with the engine revved between 2300 and mostly noticed at 2800 RPM. I did replace the harmonic balancer, as the one on it was showing rubber oozing out in places it shouldn't. Anyway, the new balancer matches the old one, and the vibration remains. I have also read the flex plate for small block Fords can have different weights. The engine runs good, is very drivable, and the vibration is hardly noticable. I've been told that if there was a wrong part, either the harmonic balancer, or the flexplate, on the engine, it would be VERY noticable. Your thoughts?

Hey man my 96 f150 5.0 has the 4 ping harmonic balancer anf i guess they dont make them no more so what can i do

with the transmission still in the car how dose one tell if you have a 28 or 50 oz c4 automatic flex plate I see the weight welded on? 157 tooth

Does the 260 and 289 and share the same balancer? Trying to find a replacement for my 63 galaxie with a 260 3 bolt). Dormans site only lists the 289 as fitment for their 594-269 part number balancer but it looks exactly the same as mine from the photos?

i have a '70 302 that i want to backdate to an earlier (ie 289) look. can i swap a three bolt balancer onto it? i figure yes but thought to ask y'all. i want to go with single groove pullies as well. any advice regarding this idea is very welcomed.

🔔😎 Dampers (balancers 😳) are to reduce torsional twist of the crankshaft as each piston fires. Like twisting your arm. The imbalance weight is to help the reciprocating balance by reducing the crankshaft counterweight's mass. The 50 oz crank does NOT have counterweights on the center journals ( edited... wrong...AND it is to be run with the 351 firing order only... Noted as wrong😁) These variations reduce the crankshaft center like whipping like a jump rope. The rotating vibrational and torsional harmonics of each type crank is very different, besides the imbalance weight. Not all 28 are the same. ALL 351s are 28 oz. though there are damper differences throughout the 351w applications. C and M are another story. 🤔

Ford did throw a rock into this discussion. Today,,, You can buy a Boss 302 (Windsor) with Z heads and 9 to 1 compression, 340 HP. This engine is INTERNALLY BALANCED. NO EXTERNAL WEIGHTS on the balancer or flywheel .

Does the rubber go bad in all of them Is replacement different?

I have a 302 from what appears the casting is e7te which looks like a truck 87 block. I'm pretty certain it's not a roller setup though, but I haven't confirmed yet. I am changing over to an AOD. This car had a 3 bolt pulley on it, so I always assumed it was a 28oz. Is it possible to setup an 87 block with 28 oz? I'm just wondering what I'm going to have to deal with here with the flywheel.

You forgot to add early sbf had timing marks in different locations depending on lower radiator hose placement.....- and I have a Napa rebuild late 70’s 302 with a larger thicker balancer than normal? There are a lot of Ford “ish” isms ....

The timing marks moved around too.

Thay also changed the fiering order on the 81 ish engens

Good info: Don’t forget about the 289 hipo which had 50oz imbalance with that “pie shaped” plate behind the damper. Yeah, another “ish” added to the list.

How bad would a 95 5.0HO vibrate if it had the 28oz? About 10 years ago When my 95 GT was my moms before she passed it had the harmonic dampener/Balancer replaced, on the original the outer ring became loose and was wobbling, I don't remember which one was installed the 28 or 50, It has a vibration at 4000ish up, it's not terrible but bad enough I avoid high revs. It's not rattling my teeth out but noticably not smooth that I know something is off. I'm a Chevy guy so Fords are a mystery to me.

Not knowing what year the motor is. Will the casting numbers answer which weights are required. The motor come without either flywheel or balancer.

What is the difference in the balance of the std 1966 289 balancer and the 1966 289 hipo balancer?

Hey guys I’m running 90 5.0 motor in my 66 ford mustang it has to be 50 oz 3bolt crankshaft pulley damper also have to change your water pump an timing cover to a 66 order a new oil dipstick make sure u order a cut off plate for your mechanical fuel pump If your running a electric fuel pump like I am, also oil pan has to be from a 66 so it can clear steering leakage hope I can help any one u guys out 🤝 also Go to CJ pony ask for guy name Jerry he knows his stuff got me all hooked up I’ll post a video of mine once I’m done also, I’m running a four barrel carburetor part number is 1407 and running my edelbrock intake manifold part number is 2121 with a set of GT 40 P heads four bar also have Shorty headers. Can’t forget about that E303 cam as well. Also boarded out to a 308 stock crankshaft

Windsor harmonic dampers could have 3 different sets of timing marks. Not all aftermarket dampers have all three sets.

My 62 221 has an ODD 3 groove pully with a tiny balancer. Comes up to 28oz. But the flywheel doesn't have any key to clock it

Bloody hell how confusing is this?? Good job those. Thanks

How do you know if you have to use the plate that’s between the engine and transmission? Bought a 302 ford engine that came from Jegs. Don’t have any paperwork.

And can they be interchanged?

is there a difference on the FEs

Do I detect a little frustration? Maybe need a little rest?

Clear as mud ISH!!! LOL

Can you do galaxie videos

see i bin hearing different i heard 82 and newer was 28oz not a 50oz

Just gotta mention it.... The 28 and 50 oz/in balance is for the flywheel ends only. Actually the dampers themselves are NOT 28 or 50 but must coordinate to match each type crankshaft. Ive forgotten but one is like 16 and the other 24. THAT vibration diffrence is not as noticeable as the flywheel end mistake**** Another reason to watch what you have. Ever see a Mopar expert put a 318 torque converter on a 360? Holy shxt. 😱😱😱

Mass confusion.....hehehe!

260's and 289's do not have the same balancers... And to add on, the 1962/3 260Ci (using 221 connecting rods) are 24.5 oz while the 1964 260's are 26.2 oz because Ford used the 289 rods. The earlier 289Ci used then 28oz balancing.

What about Cleveland?

The last thing we need is an unbalanced Jeff Ford.

He doesn’t have a drinking problem YET!! Keep working on FORD with FORD it’s coming…….

I want to add to your "ISSH" You forgot the 1st gen Ford Bronco V-8 it ran 3 bolt all the way till 1977

102k EZ

Check your dipstick

Ok here's one if you can answer it I bought a used 302 when I looked up the block it was 87ish but how do you know the crank year crank info SMW stamp/2MAE/20C That's all I could find thinking it's a 50 oz

Ford went to a lighter weight crank with the 50 ounce imbalance.