Sorry your having so much trouble with the balancer.. when you first posted the thread, I think I commented on replacing the balancer not being technically complicated, but just more of a PITA to replace cuz so much sht has to be moved out of the way or taken off the front end.

I never would have been able to replace mine on my own, Had help. I have the powerbond piece also, and don't have any wobble.

Good luck and hang in there

 

Awesome!! Fellow Honda man...Its kind of funny because I wanted to buy a 92 Accord or a Corvette. I used to have an Accord I bought for $700 just out of high school. Changed the Alt-Batt, and drove it for 40k mi then sold it for $1300 to a Mexican who thought he was ripping me off. That car was Amazing. I used to go to a mountain near by and drive it like a rally car. Also hit 130mph in it until my loose as$ CV axle locked up and scared the **** out of me but it didn’t break. Side note: The car will do 58 in reverse. Just a point that I had a $700 Honda I could drive however I wanted to for 40k mi with no problems and yes it did smoke and sound like crap but it sure was fun.

I’m optimistic about the Vette though.

 

Thanks. I learned a lot from doing it so it was not a total loss. I think I could do it in 5hrs next time. I think I'm starting to get a handle on all of this. Changing the belts tomorrow so I will get a chance to look at it closer.

Is any ones Synthetic Oil black on the dipstick when you check it?

I know from experiance that some Amsoil I put in bikes can change really fast, but its real dark to start with.

Once changed the oil in a Komatsu forklift and the factory oil out of the bottle was as black as any used oil I have ever seen.

 

Sorry to hear about all the problems. I've got 75k on mine and I haven't had any of those problems. By and large, these things are pretty reliable.

 

Hmm, well my 99 FRC at 750whp was putting a smackdown on a 07 GSXR 1K about a year and a half ago. Lol, he was the same way said he never lost to a car. His friend on his R6 couldnt stay within a football field of me I know what your saying though bikes are insanely fast, I sold my 05 R1 last year and am now looking to buy another bike. Good luck with the car, hopefully you get everything straightened out.

 

Keep us posted...

"Black"??? May be time for a change...

And don't start a thread on what oil to use, plenty of those here too...

 

Ya may knock it, but that is why I got mine from Carmax. 5 day return no questions asked, 30 day limited warranty.....You would be suprised How much more business you would obtain by offering a limited warranty.
To me no warranty/as is means that there may be more problems in the car then can be found at initial buy time......

 

Carmax rocks. Will be going to their wholesale auction Monday (they sell 100 cars every week for two stores, shows the amount of business they do!)...

I actually offer a third party "bumper to bumper "warranty for all my cars if needed to close the deal; it retails for $390 and I offer if for $190. You would be surprised how many decide not to get it.

If they threaten to walk, I will eat the $190 to close the deal...

For the record, the average profit margin for Carmax is $2500. Mine is about $800...Other notables;

1) Carmax sells newer cars, some still under factory warranty. They have in house service dept and all their cars have been completely refurbished.

2) Carmax is typically the highest in the market place, and their price is usually no haggle. As mentioned, their profit margins allow them to offer much more than any small guy like me; heck, I sell in one year what they sell in one month...

 

What! I live for those threads.

Black is pretty normal, but... I would change the oil if you don't know what the dealership put in it, or if they even changed it at all.

FYI as you appear to be an AMSOIL user, AMSOIL makes two oil meeting GM Standard 4718M for the Vette:
AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic 0w30 (Product Code SSOQT)
AMSOIL SAE Synthetic 5w30 (Product Code ASLQT)

I used the former in my 06 CTS-V (LS2 engine) until I sold it recently and go very low wear numbers. I use AMSOIL racing oil in my 02 Z06 which only sees track duty.

On your harmonic balancer, some wobble is normal. As you likely learned when you replaced yours, their is no key on the LSx engine's balancers. Back in 04, I had the engine rebuilt before the SCCA's end of year championship. The stock balancer was removed and replaced (not required to be replaced by the shop manual), and a new bolt was used. The balancer came off two laps into the first practice. Given that their is an oil seal right behind the balancer, that came out as well and I lost oil pressure and the engine. Though you replaced the balancer so it should be a tight fit, I am still very leery of pulling the balancer off. I recommend you keep an eye on the balancer and make sure it isn't walking out - noting that engine rotation losens, not tightens, the bolt.

Good luck with your other annoyances. The C5 really is a great car and I've seriously considered getting one to replace my CTS-V as a daily driver (still looking at options).

 

Awesome last few posts! Thanks to everyone.

I took some time and drove up to the local parts house to pick up some belts and hoses. When I first started the car it seemed to be running ok so I lifted the hood and took a look at the balancer. I was hoping that I had just been playing the whole thing up in my head while I was out of town but I was disappointed to see the wobble was WORSE than I remembered.

I got back home and changed the belts and radiator hoses, topped the antifreeze off, checked for leaks that may have occurred since I took the PS lines off and stuff and took it for a drive since Saturday it was around 75 and sunny.

When we got home after a couple of hours of riding around I lifted the hood to see the balancer running straighter than before WTF !!! Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me but I don’t think so. I put I scribe on it before we left and after we got home and I could see a difference.

This is blowing my mind. I really am actually embarrassed to post the results because I don’t even believe it. I checked the bolt to make sure it was tight because as the gentleman pointed out above the motor spins in the direction that would make the bolt loosen if there was any slipping of the balancer on the crank. Everything checked out for all I know. I couldn’t exactly put my 5ft breaker bar back on it but its definitely not loose.

I’m at the point where the car is going to be driven and if it lets loose because of the balancer I will just upgrade with a better motor setup.

I do want a second opinion from the local dealer but until they get my catalytic converter in I’m not making a special trip. ( Do warranty parts always take 3wks to get in? )

As for the oil. I checked the filter and the dealer had put the mileage on it when they changed it. Plus they said they changed it and I believe them. When I was there I asked what kind of oil they would recommend and they said, " We just put mobile 1 5w30 synthetic in it when we changed it. ) So I went to the local wallymart and bought a quart. I took the lid of and peered inside to see the oil. Not to my surprise the oil starts off a little dark so I’m not worried about the color anymore.

I plan on changing the oil as soon as the dealer gets my cat in. I want them to do the whole top end/fuel system treatment before they put the new converter on so that any carbon that gets loosened up doesn’t clog it up. Then I will change the oil. I just don’t want to change the oil only to get the injectors/top end cleaned and then feel like I need to change the oil again.

Wow...I feel like I just wrote a book.

I like the car more everyday and plan on buying another soon if the one I have will settle down.

 

I just wanted to add that I ran my finger along the rubber between the two parts of the balancer and It did not feel like it was seated the same all the way around but its hard to tell with it installed. Its so hard to get a good angle where I could see it but like I said earlier I’m done with worrying about the balancer. I will keep an eye or two on it but short of that I think I’m just going to enjoy the car a little bit.

 

( Do warranty parts always take 3wks to get in? )

no, usually it takes longer

enjoy the car!!!

 

I suspect you are fine as you used a new balancer and in my case I pulled off the aluminum stock one and pressed it back on - not so tight second time around. Enjoy the car!

 

I don't know if anyone is still on this thread but FYI. I spent the weekend rebuilding the DS Headlight motor. It was the easiest thing Ive done so far. Put the brass gear in it and it works like a champ. Rodney Dickman set up. Glad I had this forum to help

Going to fix a dim HVAC control panel this weekend.

This car has some small annoyances but with the help of the forum I'm actually enjoying working on the thing.

Bought a new 60inx42in tool chest this weekend to help organize all the tools I'm using...

I told the wife with all the money we are saving with me fixing the car it was a good investment, then I went out and bought exactly what I wanted.

 

looks like you're catching mod fever!!!