454 balancer
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Joined: Sep 2012
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454 balancer
I have went completely through my 73 454 and noticed the harmonic balancer/damper has dry rot and many cracks. Should I buy aftermarket or is there some place I can send it to for refurbishing?
Safety Car
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From: BC
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From: Los Gatos CA
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Just because you see surface cracking of the small, visible portion of the rubber in your balancer does not mean that it's bad. If the balancer has not slipped, and if the timing marks are still accurate, the balancer is more than likely still good and safe.
I have had 2 brand new aftermarket (non-SFI-rated) balancers come apart on me. One of them caused about $1000 in damage to a '64 Vette when it exploded, and the other one put a friend in the hospital with a shattered foot and ankle from the shrapnel from the explosion. Just because a balancer is new does not make it safe or reliable. I would trust a GM stock balancer with minor rubber surface cracking, with no indication of slippage, long before I trust an "economical" aftermarket unit...
Lars
I have had 2 brand new aftermarket (non-SFI-rated) balancers come apart on me. One of them caused about $1000 in damage to a '64 Vette when it exploded, and the other one put a friend in the hospital with a shattered foot and ankle from the shrapnel from the explosion. Just because a balancer is new does not make it safe or reliable. I would trust a GM stock balancer with minor rubber surface cracking, with no indication of slippage, long before I trust an "economical" aftermarket unit...
Lars
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 46
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[QUOTE=lars;1586305635]Just because you see surface cracking of the small, visible portion of the rubber in your balancer does not mean that it's bad. If the balancer has not slipped, and if the timing marks are still accurate, the balancer is more than likely still good and safe.
I have had 2 brand new aftermarket (non-SFI-rated) balancers come apart on me. One of them caused about $1000 in damage to a '64 Vette when it exploded, and the other one put a friend in the hospital with a shattered foot and ankle from the shrapnel from the explosion. Just because a balancer is new does not make it safe or reliable. I would trust a GM stock balancer with minor rubber surface cracking, with no indication of slippage, long before I trust an "economical" aftermarket unit...
I have always used the original balancer on other builds, but didn't want to scrimp on this project. I feel your statement is sound and true.
I have had 2 brand new aftermarket (non-SFI-rated) balancers come apart on me. One of them caused about $1000 in damage to a '64 Vette when it exploded, and the other one put a friend in the hospital with a shattered foot and ankle from the shrapnel from the explosion. Just because a balancer is new does not make it safe or reliable. I would trust a GM stock balancer with minor rubber surface cracking, with no indication of slippage, long before I trust an "economical" aftermarket unit...
I have always used the original balancer on other builds, but didn't want to scrimp on this project. I feel your statement is sound and true.
