I have a 56 T-Bird, 312, and I have the harmonic balancer removed.  The area where the seal rides, has grove worn from the seal, and I would like to repair it.  Does anyone sell a bushing that rides under the seal, or has anyone repaired this problem?

Thanks, Barry

Almost any of the major parts stores sell repair sleeves for the balancer seal surface.I know for sure NAPA has them.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

As Paul stated NAPA has them listed as do many online sites. A word of caution though, make sure to dress the area of the damper that the sleeve covers. They are very thin and can be deformed when they are pressed on if the damper is not clean and smooth.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Thanks for the quick response.  I bought one today, but the sleeve is almost too short to cover the grove.  I'm still looking for a longer one, with the same inside diameter, this one is .920 long, I need it to be about  1.250 or near there.

Thanks again, Barry

Check your local bearing supply house.  I think their sleeves are a bit longer than the parts house sleeve, which is actually made for a small block Ford which is the same diameter as the Y.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

That same afternoon I went to the local bearing supplier and they couldn't help with a longer one.  I've got a machinist buddy that is going to trim (lathe) my balancer shaft about 1/2 inch on the outside of the shaft, so the sleeve will ride down a little more.  That should make the sleeve cover the groove and not change the shafts distance to the timing gear. Too bad no one makes the sleeve, but we must do what we have to do, on these cars. 

Thanks, Barry

56 T-Bird, 312

Texas City, Texas 

Well today I got my 312 running. I got the harmonic balancer back from the machine shop, they trimmed the HB shaft, and installed the sleeve without problems. The groove is covered and does not leak.

Now I'm looking for 16 new rocker arms, and 2 new shafts, as mine have wear and some don't adjust enough. Does anyone sell them at a better price than on ebay, the local parts suppliers are higher. Also, what's with the "rocker arm pressurized modifiction" from the Y-Block guy on You Tube? I was wanting a little feedback from somebody that has done it. This car is not driven very much, only about 500 miles a year, if that much.

Thanks for all the advice, Barry

Barry, since you live in Texas, you might check with Don Hyde-FordCraft. Not an online guy, here's his #, 972--423-4636. He can get you about anything you need and is very knowledgeable about Birds.



I am surprised you couldn't find the proper sleeve, I got mine for the same issue at O'Reilly's Auto Parts. Also surprised you machined the collar and got it to work! But hey I learned something new. Welcome to the forum.



Pressurizing the rockers is one way to go. All mine work fine without that treatment. you can read up on here with a search about the various methods and issues for doing that.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

The Micro-Sleeve part #MS229-1 is listed for the 292/312 Fords but I see where it also fits some other applications.  What brand sleeve were you dealing with?

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

The brand was Fel-Pro.  I looked at several suppliers and all the sleeves were really made for a small block Ford, they have the same diameter crankshaft, so they will fit a y-block.  The only problem with mine, the sleeve was about 1/4 inch short, and did not cover the groove worn by the timing cover seal.  I was owner/manager of an auto parts store for 14 years, and I am usually pretty good at finding parts, the y-block is getting harder to find stuff as time goes by.  I bought this T-Bird in 1976, and it was a lot cheaper and more easy to find parts.  I tried to upload a picture of the repaired shaft, but it says the space has been exceeded. Oh well. 

Thanks for all the help, Barry