replacing the harmonic balancer and timing chain
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
replacing the harmonic balancer and timing chain
im looking at replacing my HB and timing chain, but have a couple of simple questions.
reading through the aim, it all seems quite simple and straight forward, except for one part.
im seeing the mention of using quite a few special tools. are any of these actually neccasary? rentable? anything i need to know going into this?
reading through the aim, it all seems quite simple and straight forward, except for one part.
im seeing the mention of using quite a few special tools. are any of these actually neccasary? rentable? anything i need to know going into this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Yes these tools can be rented. The harmonic balancer installer and removal tools are necessary, the rest are hand tools. It is pretty straight forward. When removing the timing chain cover you will have to pry it loose. Be careful not to distort the flange. Be careful when removing the sprockets and chain. Others will chime in soon.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
15 bucks for the HB puller from corvette central. i need to order a bunch of other things anyways, so ill probably just buy the damned thing and keep it on hand for future use.
now, any recommendations on who to buy the HB and TC from? or are they all the same, all the way from the 20 dollar one on ebay, to the 70 dollar one at napa? (the balancer that is, the TC and gear looks like its only about 20 bucks.)
now, any recommendations on who to buy the HB and TC from? or are they all the same, all the way from the 20 dollar one on ebay, to the 70 dollar one at napa? (the balancer that is, the TC and gear looks like its only about 20 bucks.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
15 bucks for the HB puller from corvette central. i need to order a bunch of other things anyways, so ill probably just buy the damned thing and keep it on hand for future use.
now, any recommendations on who to buy the HB and TC from? or are they all the same, all the way from the 20 dollar one on ebay, to the 70 dollar one at napa? (the balancer that is, the TC and gear looks like its only about 20 bucks.)
now, any recommendations on who to buy the HB and TC from? or are they all the same, all the way from the 20 dollar one on ebay, to the 70 dollar one at napa? (the balancer that is, the TC and gear looks like its only about 20 bucks.)
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
i was planning on pulling the oil pan, ive got a leak there that ive been meaning to fix for some years.
as for the hb, they all say theyre built to factory spec, but theres no name on any of them and they all look identical and have the same specs.
as for the hb, they all say theyre built to factory spec, but theres no name on any of them and they all look identical and have the same specs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
Just a suggestion.....I would drop the oil pan to do the timing chain cover, and replace the pan gasket with the Fel-Pro 1 piece gasket
Also look into buying/renting a harmonic balancer installer, makes the job much easier
Also look into buying/renting a harmonic balancer installer, makes the job much easier
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
i hate going cheap, but god, this looks like exactly what im looking for. judging from the pics, the 2 marks look like they line up.
i just get this nagging feeling its too good to be true.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_4396wt_1534
i just get this nagging feeling its too good to be true.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_4396wt_1534
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I went with an ATI Street Damper. If you have a high performance engine go with the Super Damper. Good products and made in the USA.
Be careful, a lot of the cheap dampers are made in China - maybe good, maybe not, maybe fly apart and cause a lot of expensive damage, or worse, take a head, foot or other body part off if it disintegrates while you are timing the engine, adjusting a carb,etc.
For a moderatley priced damper of good quality price a Pioneer brand. They are made in Australia and are OEM for a lot of car manufacturers both foreign and domestic. Just me, but I would not trust a no-name twenty dollar damper on my car. Autozone, Advanced, and I think NAPA's are Pioneer.
You will need a harmonic balancer installer as well as a puller. I use the set made by Lisle (made in the USA). I think it ran around forty dollars. Check the discount tool websites and eBay.
The old way was to beat the damper on with a block of wood and a hand sledge. Don't do that. It can cause all kinds of expensive damage.
Not a particularly hard job to do with the right tools.
Be careful, a lot of the cheap dampers are made in China - maybe good, maybe not, maybe fly apart and cause a lot of expensive damage, or worse, take a head, foot or other body part off if it disintegrates while you are timing the engine, adjusting a carb,etc.
For a moderatley priced damper of good quality price a Pioneer brand. They are made in Australia and are OEM for a lot of car manufacturers both foreign and domestic. Just me, but I would not trust a no-name twenty dollar damper on my car. Autozone, Advanced, and I think NAPA's are Pioneer.
You will need a harmonic balancer installer as well as a puller. I use the set made by Lisle (made in the USA). I think it ran around forty dollars. Check the discount tool websites and eBay.
The old way was to beat the damper on with a block of wood and a hand sledge. Don't do that. It can cause all kinds of expensive damage.
Not a particularly hard job to do with the right tools.
Last edited by stock76; Apr 9, 2009 at 09:56 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 27
From: Sonora CA
There's a guy in Redding CA that rebuilds dampers back to factory specs. I had him rebuild three of mine. (from different cars) and he did a excellent job, very reasonably priced ans fast turn-a-round Not sure if I can name his business on this site. But I have his contact info.
steve
steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
i hate going cheap, but god, this looks like exactly what im looking for. judging from the pics, the 2 marks look like they line up.
i just get this nagging feeling its too good to be true.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_4396wt_1534
i just get this nagging feeling its too good to be true.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_4396wt_1534
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 11
NAPA is usually Doorman - a very well know company that makes a lot of replacement parts. I have used this balancer several times and it is a quality piece. Most recently, I put one my '79 last October. Price is reasonable and just about every NAPA has one the shelf and it has a warranty.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 41
From: Simpsonville SC
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
Getting the crank gear back on is a different story. I used the balancer installer tool with a short piece of pipe. Worked like a charm.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Streator Illinois
Whatever you do, DO NOT try to pull the balancer back onto the shaft using only the crank bolt that holds the balancer. It will likely strip the threads and then you are in for having to install a Helicoil or a pair of them one on top of the other.
Also bad to pound it back on with a hammer because you could damage the crank thrust surface and/or main bearings.
Definitely good advice as previously given by others to use the proper removal tool and the installation tool. You can check with Auto Zone, Pep Boys, etc for their tool loan program where you pay a deposit to borrow the tool(s).
It will also save you some headaches and work if you do not turn the engine over while the timing chain is off.
Terry
Also bad to pound it back on with a hammer because you could damage the crank thrust surface and/or main bearings.
Definitely good advice as previously given by others to use the proper removal tool and the installation tool. You can check with Auto Zone, Pep Boys, etc for their tool loan program where you pay a deposit to borrow the tool(s).
It will also save you some headaches and work if you do not turn the engine over while the timing chain is off.
Terry
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
just got the pioneer HB in this afternoon, and i already sent it back. the timing mark was about 3/4 of an inch off (clockwise) from the crank key.
if the second pioneer is the same way, im going to try the doremen (i think thats what it was called)
by the way, picked up the felpro once piece oilpan gasket. my god, that thing is amazing. im going to see if i can get those same gaskets for my valve covers.
if the second pioneer is the same way, im going to try the doremen (i think thats what it was called)
by the way, picked up the felpro once piece oilpan gasket. my god, that thing is amazing. im going to see if i can get those same gaskets for my valve covers.