Fluidampr or Regular?
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: NC,USA
Fluidampr or Regular?
Hi guys... whats the general opinion on fluidamp harmonic balancers? Other then them being more expensive, would a street engine with 300 horsepower feel the difference?
ZD
ZD
Race Director
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From: Forked River NJ
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (ZD75blue)
I would say a fairly stock rebuild with 300 HP should be fine wit ha stock damper. If you are going to turn some rpm on a consistant basis (6500+ rpm) and are pushing 400+ HP than a Fluidamper is a good idea. I have one on mine just to be safe. I regularly run past 6500 rpm
Safety Car
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From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (Gordonm)
Gordonm...
What haromonic balance pulley set-up are you running off the fluidampr? I am just guessing that you are still running a belt driven alternator & water pump and not purely drag racing with electric water pump/no alternator and dual batteries that are charged between rounds.
The 355 I have coming in will need the water pump/pulley and harmonic balance pulley. Did you go aftermarket(water pump & harmonic balancer pulleys) and if so, what with? Nothing on this present engine will go on the new setup.
What haromonic balance pulley set-up are you running off the fluidampr? I am just guessing that you are still running a belt driven alternator & water pump and not purely drag racing with electric water pump/no alternator and dual batteries that are charged between rounds.
The 355 I have coming in will need the water pump/pulley and harmonic balance pulley. Did you go aftermarket(water pump & harmonic balancer pulleys) and if so, what with? Nothing on this present engine will go on the new setup.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Wichita, KS
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (ZD75blue)
Your stock balancer lasted 20 or more years. Why spend money on something else? You will not feel any differance.
By they, the fluiddampr on my engine was bought used for less than a new stock balancer. If I had been paying new retail price I would have gotten stock. The 406 I'm currently building will have a stock balancer.
By they, the fluiddampr on my engine was bought used for less than a new stock balancer. If I had been paying new retail price I would have gotten stock. The 406 I'm currently building will have a stock balancer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Austin TX
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (ZD75blue)
My mechanic recommended the Fluidamper for the following reasons:
The OE harmonic damper is designed to deal with harmonics of a stock engine design. When you start making modifications, you change the rpm at which the harmonics appear. A rebuilt, bored or stroked 350 designed for higher RPM ops will have a completely different harmonic profile (due to different reciprocating weight (larger pistons, longer rods, hyper eutetic pistons, etc), different internal friction (roller cams) and different machining tolerances (blueprinting)) than a stock engine. Higher RPM ops amplifies these changes.
Also, OE balancers do fail over time due to the design. Failure can be partial and subtle. For example, a slight slippage of the outer ring of an OE balancer will place the timing marks in the wrong position which can cause timing to be set improperly which can lead to misdiagnosis and/or several other problems.
Fluidampers will not fail due to a different design. I have used the same Fluidamper on three completely different small blocks with good results.
[Modified by flynhi, 9:14 AM 12/1/2002]
[Modified by flynhi, 9:36 AM 12/1/2002]
The OE harmonic damper is designed to deal with harmonics of a stock engine design. When you start making modifications, you change the rpm at which the harmonics appear. A rebuilt, bored or stroked 350 designed for higher RPM ops will have a completely different harmonic profile (due to different reciprocating weight (larger pistons, longer rods, hyper eutetic pistons, etc), different internal friction (roller cams) and different machining tolerances (blueprinting)) than a stock engine. Higher RPM ops amplifies these changes.
Also, OE balancers do fail over time due to the design. Failure can be partial and subtle. For example, a slight slippage of the outer ring of an OE balancer will place the timing marks in the wrong position which can cause timing to be set improperly which can lead to misdiagnosis and/or several other problems.
Fluidampers will not fail due to a different design. I have used the same Fluidamper on three completely different small blocks with good results.
[Modified by flynhi, 9:14 AM 12/1/2002]
[Modified by flynhi, 9:36 AM 12/1/2002]
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: NC,USA
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (flynhi)
My mechanic recommended the fluidamper for the following reason:
The OE harmonic damper is designed to deal with harmonics of a stock engine design. When you start making modifications, you change the rpm at which the harmonics appear. A rebuilt, bored or stroked 350 designed for higher RPM ops will have a completely different harmonic profile than a stock engine.
Also, OE balancers do fail over time due to the design. Fluidampers will not fail due to a different design. I have used the same fluidamper on three completely different small blocks with good results.
The OE harmonic damper is designed to deal with harmonics of a stock engine design. When you start making modifications, you change the rpm at which the harmonics appear. A rebuilt, bored or stroked 350 designed for higher RPM ops will have a completely different harmonic profile than a stock engine.
Also, OE balancers do fail over time due to the design. Fluidampers will not fail due to a different design. I have used the same fluidamper on three completely different small blocks with good results.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (ZD75blue)
I'm with flynhi on this one. The stock damper is not made to run a high rpm. GM saved money where ever they can. If they can get away with a less expensive item they will. They pay people lots of money to find ways to cut costs. A high performance motor is no place to cut costs. I've seen stock dampers run at 8000 rpm but i've also seen them come through the hood after letting go. Better to be safe on this deal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,286
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From: San Jose California
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (ZD75blue)
For 300 hp, I probably wouldn't care too much. I bought a new stock damper for my L88 when I built it and it runs pretty darn good. Even so, now that I'm changing cam, and the clutch/flywheel anyway Iwill be going to a Fluidamper too while I'm at it. Flyinhi's statement is very close to my conclusion.
Chuck
Chuck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Sodertalje/Sweden
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (Chuck Harmon)
Does the HP rating have anything to do with the damper?The staticdamper is designed to work at a certain RPM,but the fluiddamper works at all rpms.I`ve always thought that if you have a engine that turns about 4Krpm at longer periods of time,then thats where the damper should work.Have i`ve got it all wrong? :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (flynhi)
My mechanic recommended the Fluidamper for the following reasons:
The OE harmonic damper is designed to deal with harmonics of a stock engine design. When you start making modifications, you change the rpm at which the harmonics appear. A rebuilt, bored or stroked 350 designed for higher RPM ops will have a completely different harmonic profile (due to different reciprocating weight (larger pistons, longer rods, hyper eutetic pistons, etc), different internal friction (roller cams) and different machining tolerances (blueprinting)) than a stock engine. Higher RPM ops amplifies these changes.
Also, OE balancers do fail over time due to the design. Failure can be partial and subtle. For example, a slight slippage of the outer ring of an OE balancer will place the timing marks in the wrong position which can cause timing to be set improperly which can lead to misdiagnosis and/or several other problems.
Fluidampers will not fail due to a different design. I have used the same Fluidamper on three completely different small blocks with good results.
[Modified by flynhi, 9:36 AM 12/1/2002]
The OE harmonic damper is designed to deal with harmonics of a stock engine design. When you start making modifications, you change the rpm at which the harmonics appear. A rebuilt, bored or stroked 350 designed for higher RPM ops will have a completely different harmonic profile (due to different reciprocating weight (larger pistons, longer rods, hyper eutetic pistons, etc), different internal friction (roller cams) and different machining tolerances (blueprinting)) than a stock engine. Higher RPM ops amplifies these changes.
Also, OE balancers do fail over time due to the design. Failure can be partial and subtle. For example, a slight slippage of the outer ring of an OE balancer will place the timing marks in the wrong position which can cause timing to be set improperly which can lead to misdiagnosis and/or several other problems.
Fluidampers will not fail due to a different design. I have used the same Fluidamper on three completely different small blocks with good results.
[Modified by flynhi, 9:36 AM 12/1/2002]
Don't forget, the inner and outer rings are encased in rubber..even though I turned 7K R's on my original 427, the thought of the balancer coming appart frightened me, so when a deal came along, I got the Fluidamper for the 533.
Another thing to keep in mind, the factory balancers worked just fine on the hi po mouse and BB motors.
Race Director
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From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (GDaina)
Another thing to keep in mind, the factory balancers worked just fine on the hi po mouse and BB motors.
Aye
The only thing I think you need to do for a street motor is purchase and install a new damper on the engine. Just whatever you do, don't re use the old one. But a factory style damper works fine.
Aye
The only thing I think you need to do for a street motor is purchase and install a new damper on the engine. Just whatever you do, don't re use the old one. But a factory style damper works fine.
Race Director
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From: Forked River NJ
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (The Money Pit)
If you guys have ever seen one come apart you would not want a stock one. Sure some have stayed together on high performance engines for a long time but its up to you if you want to risk it. They will tear up everything in their way. I chose not to. I'm not wasting my money. Just like a blow shield. I hope I never have to use it but I'd rather not risk me or the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: San Jose California
Re: Fluidampr or Regular? (Gordonm)
If you guys have ever seen one come apart you would not want a stock one.
Some of us do see considerably above 5500 rpm, in my case 7,000 rpm. For those that don't, yes, a new factory one should do just fine.
Chuck
