ATI Super Damper to Rack Clearance
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
ATI Super Damper to Rack Clearance
1996 LT1
Just wondering what kind of clearance any of you are seeing between the ATI Super Damper and the steering rack directly in front of it.
Mine clears, but seems pretty close. Wondering if that's normal.
My damper is a 917274.
Thanks
Jake
Just wondering what kind of clearance any of you are seeing between the ATI Super Damper and the steering rack directly in front of it.
Mine clears, but seems pretty close. Wondering if that's normal.
My damper is a 917274.
Thanks
Jake
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,172
Likes: 11
From: somers, ny
Jake, we had one on my nephew's car. We even had a crank trigger squeezed in there. It was super close, but it didn't hit. Installing that ATI unit is a real PITA. The damper bolt is about 1/2 mile into the hub 
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I realize that. That's the steel shell damper, 9.75 lbs, 7.5" OD with steel hub @ 2.9 lbs.
917269 is an aluminum shell damper, 6.75 lbs, 7.5" OD with a steel hub @ 2.9 lbs.
917275 is the one I have, aluminum shell damper, 4.5 lbs, 6.78" OD and with a steel hub @ 2.9 lbs.
This same unit is also available with an aluminum hub by ordering 917273. The aluminum hub is only 1.4 lbs.
I opted for the steel hub version thinking it better for a street car with full accessories.
I've posted all of this because questions re/ the Y body Super Damper have come up frequently here as of late. For reasons such as mentioned by Jake, I recommend the small damper. Not does it also provide maximum clearance and slightly underdrives the accessories, but it's good to 600 HP. This should cover most of us.
917269 is an aluminum shell damper, 6.75 lbs, 7.5" OD with a steel hub @ 2.9 lbs.
917275 is the one I have, aluminum shell damper, 4.5 lbs, 6.78" OD and with a steel hub @ 2.9 lbs.
This same unit is also available with an aluminum hub by ordering 917273. The aluminum hub is only 1.4 lbs.
I opted for the steel hub version thinking it better for a street car with full accessories.
I've posted all of this because questions re/ the Y body Super Damper have come up frequently here as of late. For reasons such as mentioned by Jake, I recommend the small damper. Not does it also provide maximum clearance and slightly underdrives the accessories, but it's good to 600 HP. This should cover most of us.
Last edited by Corvette Kid; Jun 25, 2007 at 09:51 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 32
From: Mission Viejo California
are you talking about not having that much clearance from the front face of the damper to the steering rack. If it is too close then check your hub and make sure it's bottomed out. I run the blower version which is 7.35" in diameter but should be fairly similar otherwise since the blower ribs are on the back side.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
Jake,
I too use the 275 ATI model 6 7/8" super damper as well on my 95. I currently own two of these dampers and they are both about 1/2 to 9/16 inch away from the steering rack on the face dimension and only about 1/4" after the three damper face bolts are installed. ATI says these bolts have to be installed. Yes, it's close but I have never had a problem except when installing the engine. It doesn't give you alot of room to squeeze by the steering rack but it will go.I also use the crank spacer required by the directions for 95. The only problem I had with the second damper I bought was it had a different style bolt head that goes in the 3 hole face. It was a star head style bolt which stuck out about 3/8" reducing rack clearance. The first damper I purchased had a round head allen head style which stuck out 1/4 inch so I swapped them to regain my 1/4" to 5/16" minimum clearance and all is well. You might want to find some shorter round headed bolts if this is your problem. The shell face itself should be about 1/2" to 9/16" from the rack as stated earlier when installed.
Rick
I too use the 275 ATI model 6 7/8" super damper as well on my 95. I currently own two of these dampers and they are both about 1/2 to 9/16 inch away from the steering rack on the face dimension and only about 1/4" after the three damper face bolts are installed. ATI says these bolts have to be installed. Yes, it's close but I have never had a problem except when installing the engine. It doesn't give you alot of room to squeeze by the steering rack but it will go.I also use the crank spacer required by the directions for 95. The only problem I had with the second damper I bought was it had a different style bolt head that goes in the 3 hole face. It was a star head style bolt which stuck out about 3/8" reducing rack clearance. The first damper I purchased had a round head allen head style which stuck out 1/4 inch so I swapped them to regain my 1/4" to 5/16" minimum clearance and all is well. You might want to find some shorter round headed bolts if this is your problem. The shell face itself should be about 1/2" to 9/16" from the rack as stated earlier when installed.
Rick
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
I was concerned about the closeness of the FACE of the damper to the steering rack. Mine doesn't touch and I've got about 1/4" clearance between the rack and the three largest bolts on the damper. I was just wondering if that's what others are seeing.
I found that the new bolts on the damper call for a T-40 PLUS. Trying to find one locally didn't work out. I went to about every store I could think of a no one ever even heard of it. Ended up buying one from Summit. 918997 I believe it is.
Jake
I found that the new bolts on the damper call for a T-40 PLUS. Trying to find one locally didn't work out. I went to about every store I could think of a no one ever even heard of it. Ended up buying one from Summit. 918997 I believe it is.
Jake
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX
Yes, I have one on my '96. The clearance from the face to the rack is very tight. In fact while roadracing with racing brake pads the damper bolts were actually hitting the rack under very heavy braking. I ended up having to grind the heads of the bolts down slightly.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Yes, I have one on my '96. The clearance from the face to the rack is very tight. In fact while roadracing with racing brake pads the damper bolts were actually hitting the rack under very heavy braking. I ended up having to grind the heads of the bolts down slightly.
That's what I suspected, that mine is installed correctly, but, by design, the damper sits very close to the rack.
When I was pressing on the hub, I actually unbolted the timing chain cover just so I could make absolutely sure I'd pressed it on all the way.
Thanks for that response.
Jake
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
917275 is the one I have, aluminum shell damper, 4.5 lbs, 6.78" OD and with a steel hub @ 2.9 lbs.
This same unit is also available with an aluminum hub by ordering 917273. The aluminum hub is only 1.4 lbs.
I opted for the steel hub version thinking it better for a street car with full accessories.
This same unit is also available with an aluminum hub by ordering 917273. The aluminum hub is only 1.4 lbs.
I opted for the steel hub version thinking it better for a street car with full accessories.
Thanks
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
917274 is for Gen II Corvette LT1 engines from 92 to 96.
I prefer the heaviest hub/damper to give the best control of harmonics.
What difference an aluminum hub makes, if any, is about anybody's guess; I've never seen any back to back comparison.
You might want to call ATI to see what they say.
Jake
I prefer the heaviest hub/damper to give the best control of harmonics.
What difference an aluminum hub makes, if any, is about anybody's guess; I've never seen any back to back comparison.
You might want to call ATI to see what they say.
Jake
