Harmonic balancer

[andric]

Wondering if someone can tell me if this harmonic balancer would be correct for my 1965 Shelby GT 350. It has Ford logo and number C5OE A but it has degree marks all the way around the balancer. Rick

[mygt350]

Not correct

[GT350Lad]

Yeah not correct

[J_Speegle]

Wondering if someone can tell me if this harmonic balancer would be correct for my 1965 Shelby GT 350. It has Ford logo and number C5OE A but it has degree marks all the way around the balancer. Rick

Is your car a non-R model?

[andric]

Yes #256

[J_Speegle]

Yes #256

Registry shows that 5S256 was not an R model

With that information I would agree with the others that it would not look like/match the original one for your car

[andric]

Does that mean this balancer is correct for an R model?

[mygt350]

It may be correct for a R-model, but its certainly not correct for your car, 5S256.

[J_Speegle]

Does that mean this balancer is correct for an R model?

Maybe. Would need some more detailed pictures to compare it to other original fully degreed balancers of the period.

[shelbydoug]

It depends on what you mean as "correct". You wouldn't get one on a regular "street" '65. You didn't have to race just a R model. Some documented S cars were raced.

In the preparation of a race engine, a fully degreed balancer was often used. They were available from SA separately as well as complete SA race prepped engines.

Some racers felt, and possibly justifiably, that the public didn't get the same power level as the factory cars did and wanted to do their own.

What's the history of your car?

[mygt350]

Was that particular car number "born" with a fully degreed balancer? If not, I suspect it's not "correct" for that particular car.

[shelbydoug]

Was that particular car number "born" with a fully degreed balancer? If not, I suspect it's not "correct" for that particular car.

Cars aren't born. I suspect the issue here is more a debate of what the terms mean rather then the reality?

[andric]

Thank you for your replies. I should have explained that I bought my car in 1980 and it didn't have the original engine.  I found a serial numbered HiPo engine that was very close to the date of my car. I thought this was the best I could do without the original engine. I really don't know the exact date that my car was built but I think it arrived at Shelby in May of 1965. This balancer was on that engine. It's taken a long time but I finished the restoration a few years ago and have been running that balancer on my engine. I've located another balancer which I have attached some pictures and is date coded 5E. I believe that date is May 1965 which is very close to the date of my car. I guess I am wondering if I should put the 5E balancer on instead.

[shelbydoug]

With a used balancer there is always a chance that it was rebalanced to another assembly and won't work right with your engine.

If you knew specifically the engine that it came off of and it was never touched new from Ford, then that's a different story but how can you be sure now?

Since your engine is running fine, personally I'd keep the degreed on the engine and the one you just bought on the shelf. When it's time to sell it offer it to the new buyer.

Keen eyes will notice it on your car and will suspect a S-A blueprinted race engine in it. Why disappoint them?

There are all kinds of day 2 cars. Many are just a bit better then as delivered.

[trotrof1]

5S228 as per registry arrived at SA   5/7/65.  I suspect a April dated balancer would be best but you could start a query and compare other cars in your time frame.