428 with romac balancer

[cb6577]

I am building a 428 using the romac sports series #2019 dampner. I had all the assembly balanced but the machine shop did not have the spacer.Somehow they were able to balance it.Now I am assembling it and the balncer lacks about 1/4" from going all the way up on the crank.It is like the sleeve is too long or the balancer is too thick.Also the timing poiter is going passed the edge of the balancer.I am using a sleeve and cover from a 390.I was wandering has anyone run into this or does someone make a shorter sleeve or am I missing something here.I remember hearing from someone once that they had to shorten the sleeve to use a paticular balancer.Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks

[FWB]

the 428 uses its own hatchet type spacer behind the balancer, it has been 20
years since i screwed around with one, try barry robotnick( survival motorsports) fpr the correct info, before you proceed,

fred

[saltshaker]

I had the same problem and was told not to worry about it

[FWB]

its not the space that puts up a flag for me, its the using the 390 spacer, which
is an internally balanced engine. the 428 is an externally balanced engine. using a external counterweight behind the balancer. its spacer is shorter, all of the reciprocating assembly is subject to how it is set up. in other words how was the engine built? externally balanced or was it built for an internal balance.
lots of info would have to be verified before you ok a 1\4 inch space. this may not be the only issue involved.

call Barry and get the info, your motor may depend on it.

Fred

[Keithc8]

OK lets get this strait. The standard 428 and 428CJ are external on the back and zero on the front so there is no problem what so ever using a 352,360,390 or 427 spacer behind the damper because they are all the same and the front covers are pretty much the same as well. The damper is probaly one that will work on a 460 or a 390/428 engine and the 460 uses a little shorter spacer and a thicker balancer. The 428 SCJ uses the hatchet sleeve behind the damper because the crank is different and it has heavier rods. If you have very little of the damper left to go on you will be ok but you may need it to go back farther for pointer and pulley alignment and you will have to shorten the damper spacer sleeve some. Very few of these after market parts bolt on. Good luck, Keith Craft

[cb6577]

Thanks for the replys people.I have meausered it to be exactly 1/8 of inch instead of the 1/4 I originally posted.Keith is correct,the engine was balanced and they added a nice size chunk of weight to the aftermarket flex plate that I am using.I am currently waiting on my pulleys and waterpump to come in that I ordered to see how everything alighns up.From there I should know if any modifications need to be made to the sleeve.I was worried I may have had the wrong balancer.This is the first 428 I have messed with and also the first romac balancer. Thanks for the help