I am tearing down a 1956 292 that was supposedly rebuilt (and looks like it was at least to some degree) and I have spotted a couple of items under the timing cover I have never seen before nor heard reference to.

The main item is a counterweight in between the fuel pump eccentric and the camshaft sprocket. It is keyed into the cam and obviously intended to cancel the vibration of the eccentric itself.

The other item looks a lot like a timing pointer, screwed into the block with flathead screws and located in between the cam and crank gears. It looks like stamped steel and has a finger that extends out a little over the crank gear inside the timing chain toward the right side as viewed from the front of the block. I'm not sure what the function of this piece is.

Are these simply obsolete early production pieces, or are they needed? I'm just curious.

I'm also curious as to whether the oil plates that go between the rocker shaft bases and the cylinder heads are necessary. This 292 has them but seeing them reminded me that my '57 312 does not.

1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive