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harmonic balancer puller and lifter rod tools question

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Old Nov 28, 2008 | 03:52 PM
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Default harmonic balancer puller and lifter rod tools question

Just trying to get all my ducks in a row before my cam gets here. Ordered all the gaskets, seals, LS2 timing chain, and ARP crank bolt today. I'm going to make my own pulley install tool. What's everyone using to pull the stock balancer off? Also I'm aware there are rods to hold the lifters up, but I've heard of using wooden dowels? Anyone know what diameter I'd need and where to get them?

thanks

Mark
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Old Nov 28, 2008 | 04:25 PM
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While we're at it, what size flare nut wrench is needed for the power steering rack hoses?
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Old Nov 28, 2008 | 04:35 PM
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Flare nut size - 18mm

Rods - Get 5/16 metal from Home Depot (see below), broken wood is too big a risk to save a few bucks.

Pulley installer - M16X2mm, 300mm long with nuts.





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Old Nov 28, 2008 | 04:48 PM
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what are you using to pull the balancer off?
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Old Nov 28, 2008 | 04:54 PM
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For the stock one I rented a three jaw puller from Autozone.
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Old Nov 28, 2008 | 06:59 PM
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Vettenuts has this procedure aced! I live close to him and borrowed his install tool... Since then,,,I made my own. Just remove the old damper bolt and once its out,, saw the head of the damper bolt off. Once you have the headless bolt, find someone that will weld it to a common piece of all thread. Then add the washers and nuts.

To help get the old damper off,,use heat!!!!!! You can use a heat gun or a torch. Just heat the "HUB" up to about 150-200 deg. Once its warm,,,it will slide off a LOT easier.

Install is the same. I used a heat gun (Wagner paint stripper gun) to heat up just the hub a and it went on really easy. Some put it in the oven and warm it up to 200 deg.

I also pinned the crank. I used a POWERBOND Damper (it has a key way) and side pinned the crank. I was amazed how easy it was.


To get the damper off or to reinstall it, you have to hold the damper. There are two ways. I used a large strap wrench and it worked excellent.

If your not going to use your old damper, here is a handy method. Mine was sooo tight that I was having trouble getting it off. Use a LARGE pipe wrench to secure the damper outer ring:



It worked fantastic.

BC
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Old Nov 29, 2008 | 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by VIPERBLUELX
what are you using to pull the balancer off?
pretty much all the 3 jaw pullers are big POS's, use the OTC GM crank pulley remover, about 70$

it's an awesome tool

I just saw Bill's post above, Bill does NOT get stuck in a task, his method will work as he posts from experience, I prefer the OTC tool

Last edited by SteveDoten; Nov 29, 2008 at 09:57 AM.
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Old Nov 30, 2008 | 03:27 AM
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Default harmonic balancer puller

rent or buy a snap-on puller. it makes the job a piece a cake. tried two other brand names that turned out to be a pos but the snap on tool was great
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Old Dec 3, 2008 | 01:43 PM
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as for the flare wrench....if you can find a stubby....thats the way to go....getting the nut loose i was fine with the standard length flare wrench but tightening it...didnt feel like i could get it tight due to lack of room to move the wrench....stubby cured this problem
also bought a pulley installer over on LS1tech....35 bux well spent
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Old Dec 3, 2008 | 01:56 PM
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doing this in a week as well..
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Old Dec 9, 2008 | 02:53 PM
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cam is in, buttoning everything up now!
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Old Dec 9, 2008 | 07:52 PM
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When I first started mine up after the Heads/Cam Mod, it was on OPEN HEADERS!! OMG was that wicked cool! The wife said it shook the dishes in the kitchen!

You just have to do that just ONCE!

Good luck

BC
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Old Dec 9, 2008 | 07:57 PM
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Did you run it for 20 minutes like that in the garage to break in the cam?

I bet that did sound bad
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Old Dec 9, 2008 | 08:00 PM
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I drove mine 20 miles with open headers to get the mid-pipe fabbed up when I first did the headers.
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Old Dec 9, 2008 | 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Capthuff
Did you run it for 20 minutes like that in the garage to break in the cam?

I bet that did sound bad
No break in like that needed with roller cams....that's a flat tappet thing.

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Old Dec 9, 2008 | 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
No break in like that needed with roller cams....that's a flat tappet thing.



oh yeh, I knew that. Really, I did.
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