Harmonic Balancer is toast.. need input
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 5
From: Nashville TN
Harmonic Balancer is toast.. need input
My balancer is moving on the snout of the crank, either its whacked or the keyway is messed up. I think my motor has an 8" balancer on it. The timing tab is bolted to the timing chain cover. I have not ripped into it yet. What is the story on 6.xx " and 8" balancers ? benefits to going one way or the other ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Originally Posted by dman535
My balancer is moving on the snout of the crank, either its whacked or the keyway is messed up. I think my motor has an 8" balancer on it. The timing tab is bolted to the timing chain cover. I have not ripped into it yet. What is the story on 6.xx " and 8" balancers ? benefits to going one way or the other ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 5
From: Nashville TN
The car does not have the original engine in it. But it looks to be the bigger balancer. I wouls assume the crank pulleys are the same, so even if I am doing an upgrade to 8" everything should fit ok.
Car originally had a TH 400, last year for use of that trans with the L-82 motors only. Its sitting in my garden shed, waiting for god knows what.
Derek.-
Car originally had a TH 400, last year for use of that trans with the L-82 motors only. Its sitting in my garden shed, waiting for god knows what.
Derek.-
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
As far as balancers, beware of the cheap ones you find at autozone, NAPA etc. They are made in China. For a crucial part that spins fast, I don't trust Chinese knock-offs. A forum member (hotrod427) had a Chinese balancer explode on him... I just pulled my Chinese balancer off and paid the big $$$ for an ATI. I think GM balancers are still made right so you can get one from a dealer.
As for the diameter, the larger the balancer the better it works as far as dampening crank harmonics. It does make the engine rev slower, though. If you go with stock, get the correct 8". If you go with ATI or similar you can go down to a 7" as they work differently than stock. A 7" ATI will still do the job with less rotating mass.
As for the diameter, the larger the balancer the better it works as far as dampening crank harmonics. It does make the engine rev slower, though. If you go with stock, get the correct 8". If you go with ATI or similar you can go down to a 7" as they work differently than stock. A 7" ATI will still do the job with less rotating mass.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 6
From: FRANKLIN GA
I agree, I just changed my balancer with a autozone one and after a few quick raps on the throttle it has slipped over 30 degrees. I'm going with a solid body kind like a fluid or tci rattler.
Stay away from cheap balancers!!
Stay away from cheap balancers!!
