I went to bar over the motor to adjust valve lash and could not feel a bolt in there. I can feel the end of the crank and a hole in there but I don't think there is a bolt in there. Is this right?

There should be a 7/16" bolt in there. (5/8" head)

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Some cranks came without the end tapped for a bolt. If yours has threads in the end you can re-install the bolt. If not you can tap the end and put a bolt in to help hold the balancer on the crank.

I had a motor with no tap before too!

Where can I get this bolt and what's the best way to bar it without the bolt?

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Z28 4 speed:
Where can I get this bolt and what's the best way to bar it without the bolt?</font>

Buy a bolt from autozone. Turn the motor by hand Grab the pulley. Its easier without the spark plugs installed.

If it's an early SBC (55-67) it won't have a threaded crank and bolt.

68 and up came with a bolt.

The bolt size for a SBC is 7/16"-20

I bought a grade 8 bolt at the hardware store, but I had the thick big washer.

If you don't have the washer, then it's best just to buy a damper bolt and washer from an auto parts store

Summit has thier brand for $4.99

You should beable to pick one up at a local parts store for under $7

As far as turning the engine over, I have always used the center damper bolt. SBC Engine with bearings in good cond. will turn over with about 60-65 ft lbs with plugs in it (around 40 ft lbs w/o plugs), so your not doing any harm to the bolt or crank.

If no center bolt. I will use a flywheel turning tool and do it from under the car with the tool and the flexplate/flywheel

Or take all the plugs out, grab ahold of the damper and pulley and turn it

Yeah I'll check out autozone today. I know it's threaded because I ran a tap in it last night. The engine turns clockwise as viewed from the front right?

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Z28 4 speed:
Yeah I'll check out autozone today. I know it's threaded because I ran a tap in it last night. The engine turns clockwise as viewed from the front right?</font>

Yes clockwise viewed from the front. I managed to turn over a BB and a SB with plugs in by the crank pulley. The crappy thing is if you have a lot of compression its kinda hard. Youll move it like a inch or so and hear a hiss. than you can turn again. Have fun.
I say buy a bolt from autozone, the kit comes with the washer and the lock washer. A grade 8 bolt from a hardware store will cost just as much.

Believe it or not I went to autozone, napa and a chevy dealership and none of them have a balancer bolt! I ended up getting it online at Summit.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Z28 4 speed:
Believe it or not I went to autozone, napa and a chevy dealership and none of them have a balancer bolt! I ended up getting it online at Summit.</font>

I hope you live close to summit. You paid probably $20 shipped huh?
Did you look in the section where the intake bolts/ header gaskets etc area?? That where they are at in autozone

No the guy at autozone looked in the computer and then he looked around the store. I bought some other things I needed at summit, not just the bolt. I learned in the past they charge the 8.95 handling fee even for a $5 bolt. So I learned to buy several items from them all at once.