Maybe, maybe not.  Ford used at least three different common locations for reading timing on the small block, and these all had corresponding balancers.  It could just be a pointer/balancer mismatch.  Or it could ave spun the outer ring.  Truthfully, with these things being 50 years old I don't mess with original balancers.  To me the risk is just too great. 

This is what I used on my 289 in my street driven 65 coupe.
It has timing marks for all three pointers and has spacers that adapt to four different pulley setups.
Has  counter weight that can be removed for internally balanced engines too.
Also has 3 bolt and 4 bolt hole configuration.
Summit has a 5.0 version too.

If I remember correctly, you can get the weights separately if you convert from 28 to 50 balance or vice versa.  That was one of the reasons I went this route, not to mention it was affordable...ten years ago.
Doesn’t look like the price has changed much either.

Just remembered, it comes bare steel.
I used a clear spray to minimize rust.
Next time might just use black or silver.

This is the street version...non SFI.
They do have a SFI rated balancer as well.

Here is info about counter weights for street version.

If it’s off by 1-1/2”, I would lean to pointer issues more than slipping. If you want to keep the original balancer, they can be fixed. I sent mine to Damper Dude. Check him out for pricing. I paid a little more with shipping than the cost of the new one Dan posted from Summit.

I have used a few pioner dampers. They are a stock looking replacement I used on the clevelands. There timing mark were always spot on. Use a timing tape if not.

Last edited by red351 (2/24/2020 11:50 AM)