Harmonic Balancer - Another Quality Part
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Harmonic Balancer - Another Quality Part
I changed the cam in my 87 about 1 year ago. The seal area of the balancer was grooved, so figured I should buy a new one.
1 year and 2000 miles later I hear a rubbing noise and find the outer ring rubbing against the timing chain cover.
It's a Dorman part, of course made in china by people that can't do anything right.
I'm done buying new parts unless I have to.
Wish I kept the old one, could have sleeved it.
Anyone know where AC Delco 12551537 is made?
If you installed this part, check it. I caught this one just in time.
1 year and 2000 miles later I hear a rubbing noise and find the outer ring rubbing against the timing chain cover.
It's a Dorman part, of course made in china by people that can't do anything right.
I'm done buying new parts unless I have to.
Wish I kept the old one, could have sleeved it.
Anyone know where AC Delco 12551537 is made?
If you installed this part, check it. I caught this one just in time.
Last edited by QuickGlass; Apr 1, 2012 at 10:17 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 841
Likes: 1
I changed the cam in my 87 about 1 year ago. The seal area of the balancer was grooved, so figured I should buy a new one.
1 year and 2000 miles later I hear a rubbing noise and find the outer ring rubbing against the timing chain cover.
It's a Dorman part, of course made in china by people that can't do anything right.
I'm done buying new parts unless I have to.
Wish I kept the old one, could have sleeved it.
Anyone know where AC Delco 12551537 is made?
If you installed this part, check it. I caught this one just in time.
1 year and 2000 miles later I hear a rubbing noise and find the outer ring rubbing against the timing chain cover.
It's a Dorman part, of course made in china by people that can't do anything right.
I'm done buying new parts unless I have to.
Wish I kept the old one, could have sleeved it.
Anyone know where AC Delco 12551537 is made?
If you installed this part, check it. I caught this one just in time.
!!I once bought a replacement (NEW) waterpump for my 84 coupe de'ville HT4100 motor. I decided to put it in one sunday and took my whole car apart (pretty hard W/P job). It turned out that I was stuck with my car apart on a Sunday and a waterpump that looked like it was made by old woman in thier plaster gallery class. The casting was so bad that it wobbled back and forth when you laid it flat on the workbench. JESUS CHRIST!!!
It turned out to be made in Poland........Not that theres anything wrong with that.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Keep buying those import cars and all the cheap things you can.
Everyone has an excuse
We put ourselves here where theres almost no choice BUT to buy only garbage parts.
======================================== =============
Lucky catch on your end you dodged a bullet for sure.
Everyone has an excuse
We put ourselves here where theres almost no choice BUT to buy only garbage parts.
======================================== =============
Lucky catch on your end you dodged a bullet for sure.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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Wow! That WAS close to a disaster. (Did the center pull out during removal?)
FWIW, Professional Products has a bad rap for the same thing....at least on their sub-$100 balancers. And, there design looks someone similar. I wonder if Dorman sub-contracts this part?
FWIW, Professional Products has a bad rap for the same thing....at least on their sub-$100 balancers. And, there design looks someone similar. I wonder if Dorman sub-contracts this part?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 841
Likes: 1
Keep buying those import cars and all the cheap things you can.
Everyone has an excuse
We put ourselves here where theres almost no choice BUT to buy only garbage parts.
======================================== =============
Lucky catch on your end you dodged a bullet for sure.
Everyone has an excuse
We put ourselves here where theres almost no choice BUT to buy only garbage parts.
======================================== =============
Lucky catch on your end you dodged a bullet for sure.
When I was a child almost everything was made in America,Blame Clinton/Gore & NAFTA. Seems we really slid further down hill since then.
Last edited by caddyboy84; Apr 1, 2012 at 03:51 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 293
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Thats a very common problem. Even for the stock GM or ford balancer, they can and do wearout.
Doing a search on google there are a few shops that can rebuild a factory balancer.
I have had dormans break off completly from the bolted area where the lower pulley bolts on.
If your turning these cars hard, make sure you buy a quality balancer, sure it costs more but its worth it.
Doing a search on google there are a few shops that can rebuild a factory balancer.
I have had dormans break off completly from the bolted area where the lower pulley bolts on.
If your turning these cars hard, make sure you buy a quality balancer, sure it costs more but its worth it.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
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Years ago these parts lasted forever, when I was a teenager My friends and I would do our "build-ups" from parts we scrounged in junkyards. Bulbs, relays, window motors,wiper blades you name it.
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
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No, the center didn't pull out during removal. The ring moved back during operation.
Race Director
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From: Database Error Indiana
For the record, NAFTA dealt with trade with Canada, Mexico and the USA. Not China, hence the NA part.
Burning Brakes
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Le Mans Master
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From: Seattle Area WA
Well that Dorman piece is I think cheaper than even the pro products stuff but man that is scary. I'd look to ATI. I know the LS guys are having timing chain breakage when they use other manuf than GM or ATI.
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From: Anaheim CA
My original damper ring came loose and walked into the timing chain cover and ground a hole in it. I found the problem when it started leaking oil. New damper, plugged the hole in the timing chain cover with J.B. Weld because I didn't want to go through the hassle of dropping the pan.
I also had a damper ring slip on my '78 Corvette. In that case I found it by trying to check the timing and the mark was way off from where it should have been.
I also had a damper ring slip on my '78 Corvette. In that case I found it by trying to check the timing and the mark was way off from where it should have been.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
interesting comment on the fluidampners never heard of that could be something to it. used them many yrs with good luck so far but perhaps there is something to it that helps absorb crank twist that the fluidampners might not be able to being as theres no oscillating ring. wondering if the d.m. flywheel doesnt help in that respect too?
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From: moraga ca
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
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I talked to a friend of mine about this (He's an engine builder) and to my surprise ,this happens more often than I thought. This happened to HIM recently with his 87GN. He said go Fluidampr also. I always went GM, but I've never had this happen and I've had my share of built motors.
Last edited by caddyboy84; Apr 2, 2012 at 11:04 AM.
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From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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I've had good luck with my Pro-Race Pro-Sport balancer as pictured in this thread.
Here's their website...
http://www.pro-race.com/prosport.htm
Mine is about 2yrs old now. Not as expensive as an ATI, not as cheap as the entry-level stuff. Seems well-made.
Here's their website...
http://www.pro-race.com/prosport.htm
Mine is about 2yrs old now. Not as expensive as an ATI, not as cheap as the entry-level stuff. Seems well-made.