440 harmonic balancer looooose!

[Shallenger]

I recently picked up a 1975 440 w/trans that the owner claimed low miles that was out of a motorhome winnebago. Checked it all out and disassembled it to make sure it was legit. Did notice heat tabs on the freeze plugs. Engine was clean inside and was rebuild at one time, .030 pistons. Cylinders has no ridges but when I was about to take off the harmonic balancer by installing the removal tool the balancer slid right off which was I was like “oh dam” and I’ve build plenty of small block engines before haven’t done a 440 yet just never ran into a problem like this and I’m wondering if 440s are like this which I highly doubt or is it just a bad harmonic balancer?

 

[Challenger RTA]

Is it loose because balancer is bad? Or is it moving because the thrust bearings are bad?

 

[Shallenger]

I think the balancer is bad because they are usually a press fit and no the thrust is good

 

[Challenger RTA]

The material there made of deteriorate. I do think someone rebuilds them.

 

[Shallenger]

The rubber is still intact but the center hole is the problem unless the crank is the problem.

 

[Challenger RTA]

You can see the wear on the crank? I think the crank metal is harder than the balancer. Clean and buff the crank with 120 grit. Then check. What's the keyway look like? I don't know the specs.

 

[Shallenger]

Might be wear and I wiped it down and it measures 1.528 on the crank area where the balancer presses on. The key way on the balancer looks good. I don’t have a snap gauge to read the inner diameter of the balancer tho.