Hello All!
About two months ago I flew out to Arizona and picked up a completely unmolested and rust free 1972 D100 with a 225 / auto combo; zero power anything, 85,000 miles on her pick up truck, and then drove it home to New Hampshire with a life long pal.
Hi-jinx did ensue, and I LOVE this truck!
Besides having to diagnose and rewire all the tail lights (problem in the steering wheel assembly), it has started acting up so I have rebuilt the Holley 1920 and am replacing the harmonic balancer (it looks real rough and timing her has been a drag)...and this is where I have run into a snag..
Side note: I have scoured past posts / conversations, as well as the internet, and think that my three questions are unique to the board..
Anyway, my parts guy is a real gem; he has always been able to find me what I need for any of my old POS vehicles, and is always willing to admit an error, and he is a little stumped also.
He ordered me a new Dorman harmonic balancer (p/n 594-243 and it seems like an A1, well built product), and although dimensionally it is perfect, the timing mark is way off from the original.
After reading many of the posts on here, I am fairly convinced that my original dampener, which has the timing mark just off from the keyway, is correct.
I understand that I could check it all out / scribe a new mark on the replacement balancer by bringing #1 to TDC, but I want to make sure I get the correct balancer.
My parts guy says that if I can get the original Dodge part number he WILL find me a replacement.
So these are my questions:
#1 - Could someone direct me to a reference that can help me nail down the correct harmonic balancer (either the correct new part number and the original part number) and / or a preferred manufacturer?
#2 Could someone direct me to where I could find / buy a complete original (either downloadable or disk / hardcopy) parts "book" for my beast
#3Can you all forgive me if this info has been laid out here before, and I have failed to find it?
Thanks a bunch!
Sean McCabe

Sean,

Welcome!

I think there were 3 different timing mark locations on the damper for different year engines, and at least 2. Also, your engine could possibly have been swapped for a different year, compounding the problem.

1960-66 (or 67?) use a bolt on timing tab on the driver side front of the timing cover, with one timing mark location on the balancer.

'67 or '68 to about the mid 70s use a welded on timing tab toward the pass side front of the timing cover, with a different balancer. Sorry I do not know the exact year break here.

After that, there were a couple of other locations and timing tabs that I have not paid attention to, but they may be the same damper mark as one of the earlier year ranges.

Best would be to take a pic (or describe) the timing tab you have so we can tell you which damper to get. It seems likely they sent you an early damper for your '72 engine, or someone swapped a different year engine in there.

Cheers,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Thats why I have such a difficult time getting my Vert timed correctly. I believe it has a 66 balancer on a 76 engine.

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Hey Dart270!
Thanks for the speedy reply! This forum is fantastic!
Considering the beast only has 85,000 miles on (bought new and owned always by a community college), and considering the grime and complete unmolestation of all nuts, bolts, wires, fittings, etc within the engine compartment / drivetrain, I really don't think the engine has been swapped. And the balancer itself still is Mopar blue and has enough gunk on it (and the rubber is in bad enough shape) to make me believe it original to this original engine.
I definitely will take a picture after cleaning it up to maybe help!
Any ideas where I can find the original Dodge part number (and not just for the balancer, but all stuff for the truck)?
Thanks again!

Upon further reflection in regards to the great info you gave me, Dart270, I should ad that my setup is the timing tab welded to the timing cover on the passenger side. Also, the spec from my (original 1972 D100 owner's manual) is 0 Degrees +/- 2.5 Degrees TDC.
Also, "70 Valiant; I would ride around in that sweet car all through the winter if I owned it! Nice pick!
Another question: How do I find out if this is a California model? I think the truck was actually from Yuma, California, and the auction house I bought it from was in Arizona. As I said, the truck was bought new and owned ONLY by a community college, but I think that college may have been in California.
Thanks again,
Sean

On the 1987 truck slant I have the keyway on the crank is straight up at 0 degrees on timing tab.

It is very possible they sent you an early damper. That mark is something like 90 deg off (toward driver side) from the 72 damper.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

just find tdc and file a line on the dampener that ends up zero'd to the timing tab, whatever timing tab it may be.

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leaving you so far behind you need a time machine to catch up