Im finally done assembling the motor/trans, all the wires are connected. I was doing the accessory belt and notice the balancer is not all the way in. I seem to have about 5/8 between the balancer and the opti. I have tried to tighten the balancer more, even light blows with a hammer...no movement. I just stopped for the nite. Any ideas? Anything I can look for before I remove balancer?

 

The balancer needs to be pressed on with a hub install tool (or a 7/16x20 threaded rod, flat washers, and a few nuts). Hammering the hub is a great way to destroy it and cause hell on your crank/bearings so don't do that anymore. It should be much closer than 5/8" away from the opti.

 

Are you sure you have the shorter hub used with the 96/97 crank sensor ring?

 

I was reading at nook and tranny and see the 96 impala and roadmaster have longer hubs. I got this engine from a roadmaster. When I installed it, I just grabbed the cleaner hub with the better looking threads. Ill bet it happened to be the roadmaster one. Well Im just going to order a new one for 97 camaro and be done. Thanks for you help guys.

 

The longer hub is only .100" longer, not 5/8" like you say.

Did you read my post? How did you install it?

 

yes, I did read it. I figure if Im going thru the trouble to remove it, ill be sure the correct one gets installed this time. No hurry and whats another $100 at this point. I have friends at the local gm dealer, they still have the tool. I just installed it with a longer bolt first then the oem one after. I do agree, it's still not close enuff to tell if I installed the wrong one. My son just turned 15, I still have another year to finish this car. So as of now, time and another $100 are not factors, so ill remove and replace for piece of mind.

 

Does the crank have the cut out key installed correctly?

 

Don't use a bolt to install the hub as you'll likely tear the threads out of the crank snout. Use an install tool or a piece of all-thread as mentioned above.