Two Q's - changing speedo gear AND crank woodruff key

[rrubel]

1. Will a 6-speed LT1's speedo gear fit in the 4+3 transmission? I've a spare set of gears I'm selling, and the buyer wants to know how simple it is to get the correct speedometer setting.

2. I noticed that the outer (crank pulley) woodruff key is missing from the crank on my new engine. Is it a simple matter of hammering/pressing a new one on? Are these readily available?

Thanks...
[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

Wow Rich it's not too aften I see a question coming from you, your usually on the other end helping out.

You should be able to pick up the key almost anywhere, assuming you mean the one for the Harmonic balancer?

I'm really surprised there is not one there, check to see if did'nt fall out when you removed the HB.

I have no idea about #1

Mart

 

[rrubel]

Heh. I still ask plenty of questions... I bow before the masters of Vette - Ken, Jeff, Rob, 69MyWay, Whalepirot...

Anyway, the engine and crank are new to me, so I never pulled the HB off it. It's definitely not there... if you go to Home Depot, there's a million (not quite, but seems that way) different keys available; this one is probably some special alloy and only available through GM or some such nonsense.

Thanks.
[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

How do you time it without the key, it could slip?

Your probably right about the key being a GM semi-precious metal.

Mart

While your here, have you ever taken the fuel rails off with the injectors intact, or do you have to take the rails off then the injectors?

 

[rrubel]

You can't time it without the key... the balancer and the pulley will just sit while the crank turns.

I've taken the injectors off still attached to the rail. I removed both runners, unbolted the fuel rails, and then used a crowbar to GENTLY pry under first one side and then the other until the injectors were free of the manifold. They just sit in place. Don't forget to disconnect the 9th injector fuel line from the back of the rails, either...

Once the rails are out, you can remove the injectors by flipping the C-clips to their unlocked position and gently (GENTLY) twisting and pulling the injectors.

[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

Did the engine come without it or do you think it just fell out, I take it you have the HB off. There are several sizes, my new balancer came with 3-4 sizes.

As for the injectors, I am having a hard time getting the drivers side runners off they keep hitting the fuel rail. I'm kind of paranoid about forcing things, I have to buy 5-6 new connectors for various places and try to get the thermo housing bolts out that broke off. So yes I'm pretty skittish right now, crowbar just seems so ..........you know.

Mart

 

[-=Jeff=-]

1. Will a 6-speed LT1's speedo gear fit in the 4+3 transmission? I've a spare set of gears I'm selling, and the buyer wants to know how simple it is to get the correct speedometer setting.

2. I noticed that the outer (crank pulley) woodruff key is missing from the crank on my new engine. Is it a simple matter of hammering/pressing a new one on? Are these readily available?

Thanks...
[RICHR]

I am pretty sure both the drive and driven gears are the same. Depending on which gearing is in the rear differential

this should help:
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/vettenuts//SpeedometerGearshtm.shtml

For the Woodruff key, i would just call a local machine shop, I would imagine they would have the correct ones.

 

[rrubel]

Jeff, thanks for the reply. So the gears are essentially interchangeable, right?

Also, I just can't imagine calling a machine shop and saying I need a key for an SBC crank... I figure I'd at least need to know what dimensions.
[RICHR]

 

[tnovot]

RICH - ABOUT THE KEY -
You are talking about the HARMONIC BALANCER key, right? The new engine did not come with the balancer? Are you reusing the old HB? Why did you ask about the OUTER key? Is there supposed to be both an INNER and OUTER key?
Doesn't the pulley just bolt to the HB?
If you do need a new key ---
Who did you get the engine from? Give them a call.
Also, don't be afraid to contact a Chevy dealer parts dept.
Or, you could try a NAPA or any reputable auto parts store that has a machine shop and does engine building/machine work. Let your fingers do the walking.
Terry

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Jeff, thanks for the reply. So the gears are essentially interchangeable, right?

[RICHR]

As far as I know they are

 

[rrubel]

Whoa! Slow down! Question overload!

The new engine was just a short block - pistons/crank/con rods/bearings, oil pump. There are two keys - one for the timing gear and one for the balancer/crank pulley assembly. It's the outer that's missing. I could email the guy who built it, but figured it'd be just as easy to find one locally if I had the size.

[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

So I take it that it is the one for the HB, when I bought a new HB it came wiht several lengths of keys.

This has turned into one questionable thread.

Mart

 

[drags1998]

Not sure about the speedo-gears, But the HB keys are about 75cents at ANY GM dealer and I am QUITE SURE they are all the same from 1955-1991 small block and yes you need TWO!!!!!!!!

 

[rrubel]

Thanks, Drags... that's the answer I was looking for.

One's there, one's gone. Do they just install with a hammer tap?

Mart, isn't it fun to watch the blind leading the deaf? Or something like that .

[RICHR]