i just pulled the balancer off my 350 - 79 4 bolt main block, and the balancer doesnt look very good. and i have one from a 305 that is in really good condition but it looks smaller than the 350 one. would the 305 balancer work?

 

Yes it will work.

Use the timing cover that came with the balancer, if you care whether your timing marks line up; or at least check the 2 covers and see if they're the same (might be)

 

Yes, it should work, the internals of the 305 are dimesionally the same as a 350, but they're weighted different because the 305 pistons are lighter. The 350 and 305 are internally balanced, so it should work, but if you pick up a vibration, that would be the first place I would look.

 

ok guys. thanks alot! im puttin it all back together now.

 

and now I am rebuilding my 350 again. Because the 305 balancer is not the correct weight. I made it about 2 years and 5000 kms before the crank broke in 2. The front of the crank went throught the timing cover and gears. The rear of the crank went through the oil pan. One of the connecting rods broke and sent the piston through the heads. All that was salvageable from my block was the vlave covers, valve springs, push rods and all of my intake.

I would suggest buying the appropriate balancer........

regards,

Jamie