So I am trying to put the balance shaft in right now and noticed there is a gap at the end opposite to where the gear is (see figure 1a). I checked the FSM and it says I need to have a "balance shaft bushing" in that spot (see figure 2), but I can't seem to find it (I have a feeling the machine shop took it by accident).

When I went to the dealership to replace it, their computer catalog makes no mention of a bushing and I didn't have my manual with me at the time so I pretty much looked like an idiot. The GM catalog only seems to have a $17 "balance shaft bearing."

Now my question is, are the bushing and bearing the same thing? Or is the bearing what goes at the end of the balance shaft (see figure 1b)?

I tried to do some research online to see what it looks like but I could only find this thread from the midwest 3800 board about doing a balance shaft deletion and they have this picture (figure 3) but I'm not sure which is which and what goes inside what.

My last question is, when I put the balance shaft in, should the driven gear completely overlap with the drive gear on the cam shaft (see figure 1c)? I couldn't really get it to go all the way by hand so I am assuming I need to take a soft mallet to it? Thanks a lot for clearing up my confusion, I just want to do this rebuild right!


Figure 1
a. rear of engine, where supposed bushing (bearing?) is missing
b. what my balance shaft looks like, not sure if thing on the rear is actually the bearing or if it is some kind of machined bearing permanently attached to the shaft
c. front of engine, not sure how far in the balance shaft should go


Figure 2: Part 43 reads balance shaft rear bushing, taken from 3800 pro forums


Figure 3: not sure what these are, taken from midwest 3800 forum

Figures you would ask about this now. I just stripped my old L36 down JUST a few days ago. And I honestly don't remember seeing an overlap with the driven gear. Dan just stripped a timing set and he should remember how that goes in.

Can't say for sure about the rear side of the engine, but I know the timing side has a bearing. And I don't recall there being any overlap on the balance shaft gears. I believe they should be even. It looks like that balance shaft is sticking out a bit. The engine I'm building now has the balance shaft removed.

Mike or Dan do you happen to remember what the Balance shaft bushing looked like? is it a piece of metal that has a lip in the middle (Like the left piece in the third picture)?

Any idea why the GM dealership might not have it in their catalog?

Or rather, is the balance shaft bearing the same part with a different name?

I guess its not a commonly replaced part.

It is possible it could be called either or...bushing or bearing.

I seen on GMPARTSEAST.COM under my listing, its item 151, but you get the whole balance shaft and the bearing. Which is about $60.

This website is fantastic! I've been going to GMPARTSDIRECT.com but their engine diagrams only have like half the parts for some odd reason. Is this only for the east coast or is there a west coast version of that site?

Take a peek at www.rockauto.com They may have the part. Otherwise I have a block sitting in the shop thats about to go to the scrap yard. I may be able to pull the part from there.

I found it on their l36 catalog but not the l67, which is odd. Apparently this is the sealed power part: 3204DR

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...keyword=3204dr

Also, thanks Dan!!