It's been a long time since I tore down a  YBlock.  I pulled the engine out of my 55 TBird.  I have it on the stand for disassembly.  I pulled out my trusty 40 year old harmonic balancer puller and to my surprise there are no threaded holes in the end of the balancer.  Back in the day I probably used a sledge hammer.  How the heck do you pull these things off?

You buy the special tool from any of the T-Bird vendors. It is the only puller designed specifically for 55-57 Tbirds to remove the damper without damaging it.

This one's from Casco.   I can make one in my shop.  Thanks!

Phil, I made one for my T-Birds a long time ago.  It is a piece of flat stock about 1/2" x 1 1/4" about 6 inches long.  I think I had to grind radii on the corners so that it would fit through the eyes in the damper.  I drilled and tapped a hole in the center.  I took a short 1/2" bolt and drilled a dimple in the head of it.  I slipped the bolt into the crankshaft center hole, slipped the bar through the eyes, screwed in the puller jack screw and pulled the damper off.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

When using the tool (bought or made) remove the bolt and washer and then reinsert the bolt.  Then use the bolt as push point for the tool so the threads in the crank are not damaged.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Thanks for the replies.  Looks pretty simple.  You guys are great,