I have a 302 AC Delco crate engine that I am installing soon, and need some help choosing the correct harmonic balancer and flywheel.

The block is a 1980 EOAE D3C casting.

From what I gather using the forum search, I should go with a 28oz balancer / flywheel..... I was just wondering if I should drop the oilpan and check the crankshaft casting #'s just to be sure??

Is it possible that AC Delco would have used a later year crankshaft while remanufacturing the engine? What makes me wonder is the engine was listed as a 1980-1986 application. The oilpan is exactly like the one currently in my 302 1980 F-150 4x4...

The engine was from a place that had these AC Delco engines as surplus, and said they thought it used a 50oz harmonic balancer.... I would like to be very sure before I install the engine.....

EDIT: Looking at This AC Delco Page, it looks like they would have used the crank that was with the block... So, I have the place I purchased it from saying a 50oz harmonic balancer, but since it is a 1980, the 28oz is the correct way to go...

I really do not want to have to pull the damn thing again if I make the wrong choice, and get a nasty vibration....

 

Pull the pan and get the crankshaft casting number. Then you can be SURE which balancer AND flywheel you will need. On a 302, the crankshaft, balancer and flywheel MUST all 3 be of the same balance style, 28oz. or 50 oz.. If any one of these 3 parts are mismatched, the dreaded "death shake" will occur. You will know RIGHT away if you have mismatched these parts!
Much smarter to find out what you have before you put it in the vehicle!
After you get the casting #, {2M or 2MA I think} take the number to a shop that sells reman cranks, they can tell you what is what.

 

Thanks bobcatv8.... I went ahead and removed the oil pan, and found the crank casting #'s to be:

E7AE-AA 2MAE

A quick Google search revealed:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/hm-performance/16550.html

1983-1997 Ford V8 302CI

So, it is going to be a 50oz harmonic balancer and flexplate.. (I meant flexplate in my first post above, not flywheel)

I am installing a new Comp Cams XE250H-10 anyway, but was going to remove and re-seal the timing cover without removing the oil pan.. I have gotten away with it before in the past with no leaks, but without knowing for certain which harmonic balancer/flexplate to use... pulling the oil pan was the only safe bet....

One could have easily had major trouble if just going by the 80-86 engine application listing, and re-using the 28oz harmonic balancer/flexplate from a 1980 F-150 like I have (especially after seeing the 1980 block casting #'s on the reman 302)...

 

Cool!
You really gotta watch Ford casting numbers, they will lead you astray sometimes!