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Harmonic Balancer Install Question

Old May 9, 2016 | 07:22 PM
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Default Harmonic Balancer Install Question

Hello everybody and thanks for talking the time to read my post. I have a 99 convertible and I bought it knowing that the hb was bad. It actually fell off right before I put it on the lift. My question is, how do I make sure I install the new hb correctly. There don't appear to be any marks on it. Do I Need to make sure the new one is turned any certain way or does it not matter?

In other words, can I simply put the new one on and not worry about the orientation? If i have to worry about it, how do I make sure it is in the correct position?

Thanks for any and all help.
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Old May 9, 2016 | 07:58 PM
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just press it on and you're good to go... since the oem balancers aren't pinned to the crank the orientation doesn't matter... it wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and pin the balancer while you have it all apart
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Old May 9, 2016 | 08:03 PM
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A new seal is a good idea also.. Considering you have it apart already
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Old May 9, 2016 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Smoken1
A new seal is a good idea also.. Considering you have it apart already
and a cam
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Old May 9, 2016 | 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by neutron82
and a cam
I wasn't gonna go there..
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Old May 9, 2016 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by neutron82
and a cam
I was actually looking into that. Any suggestions? The car is stock now but i did just buy all the exhaust minus headers. I bought billy boat bullets, an x pipe, and intermittent pipes. I also bought a vortex cai.

Is a cam upgrade that noticeable besides the sexy sound?

Last edited by C5droptop99; May 9, 2016 at 08:17 PM.
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Old May 9, 2016 | 08:24 PM
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Do you have plans on a super charger?
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Old May 9, 2016 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Smoken1
Do you have plans on a super charger?
No, I do not plan on supercharging it.
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Old May 9, 2016 | 08:47 PM
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OK, then my cam choice will not help you
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Old May 10, 2016 | 06:56 AM
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You are supposed to mark the orientation prior to removal. You are supposed to observe whether there are weights in the hb that require transfer to the new stock hb. How are you removing/installing? Don't follow ls1howto.com unless you want to damage the crankshaft. Here is the factory installation procedure.





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Old May 10, 2016 | 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
You are supposed to mark the orientation prior to removal. You are supposed to observe whether there are weights in the hb that require transfer to the new stock hb. How are you removing/installing? Don't follow ls1howto.com unless you want to damage the crankshaft. Here is the factory installation procedure.





Here is my dilemma. The balancer that was on there came apart and I do not know the way it was intended to be on there. I bought an acdelco replacement but it looks different from the one that was on there. What do you suggest as far as putting it back on correctly? Thank you for the help and all of the detail. I really appreciate it.
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Old May 10, 2016 | 03:18 PM
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Just install the new one... Its NOT going to make any difference what way it goes on now that the old OEM is destroyed!

The new one you have SHOULD be zero balanced.

The only time that you need to worry about how it came off and how it gets reinstalled is if you are RE-INSTALLING the OEM one.

Make sure that you install a new seal and oil the lip of the seal. You have to use a new bolt and you MUST follow the bolt torque instructions 100%

Bill
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Old May 10, 2016 | 03:37 PM
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Bill, I have a question. If you use an ARP bolt can you just go with a torque specfication rather then do the torque and angle tightening ?
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Old May 10, 2016 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Just install the new one... Its NOT going to make any difference what way it goes on now that the old OEM is destroyed!

The new one you have SHOULD be zero balanced.

The only time that you need to worry about how it came off and how it gets reinstalled is if you are RE-INSTALLING the OEM one.

Make sure that you install a new seal and oil the lip of the seal. You have to use a new bolt and you MUST follow the bolt torque instructions 100%

Bill
I just spoke to chevy and the man told me that it should be noted how the old one was on. He seemed to believe that the fact that my car is a 6 speed, makes the difference. I still have the main center part of the balancer on the car and I may be able to see how the outer part was on there but the old one and the new one done look similar as far as the holes for the weights. I just don't want to have to do this twice and I don't want to harm my motor.

Do i need to somehow stop the flywheel from moving and do I need that tool to install it or should I just put it in the oven at 225 for 20 minutes?
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Old May 10, 2016 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Darrell98
Bill, I have a question. If you use an ARP bolt can you just go with a torque specfication rather then do the torque and angle tightening ?
Darrell98


The ARP bolt goes STRAIGHT to the required torque!

C5 DROPTOP99


Look at this picture. Where are the BALANCE PINS INSTALLED????? "On the OUTER RING"

Your outer ring is no longer on the HUB. You have ZERO way of knowing where it was when the factory finial balanced the engine.

You can SAVE the old outer ring and IF you have a balance issue

(I have never seen a damper replacement cause a balance issue)

You can knock out the balance pins out and insert them / It in one of the twelve HOLEs until the balance is regained.


If you look closely, you can see that the damper has TWO additional holes that was DRILLED at the finial balance.



Just install the new damper and enjoy.


'Now,,,,,,,,,, If we were talking about the FLY WHEEL balance,,,, That would be a WHOLE NOTHER STORY!!! That balance position and amount of balance is C R I T I C A L !!!!!!!!


Bill
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Old May 10, 2016 | 04:16 PM
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Thank you Bill
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Old May 10, 2016 | 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Darrell98


The ARP bolt goes STRAIGHT to the required torque!

C5 DROPTOP99


Look at this picture. Where are the BALANCE PINS INSTALLED????? "On the OUTER RING"

Your outer ring is no longer on the HUB. You have ZERO way of knowing where it was when the factory finial balanced the engine.

You can SAVE the old outer ring and IF you have a balance issue

(I have never seen a damper replacement cause a balance issue)

You can knock out the balance pins out and insert them / It in one of the twelve HOLEs until the balance is regained.


If you look closely, you can see that the damper has TWO additional holes that was DRILLED at the finial balance.



Just install the new damper and enjoy.


'Now,,,,,,,,,, If we were talking about the FLY WHEEL balance,,,, That would be a WHOLE NOTHER STORY!!! That balance position and amount of balance is C R I T I C A L !!!!!!!!


Bill
Bill, You are the man! Thank you very much. How would you suggest I reinstall it? Do you think I should use the old arp bolt or is a tool I can rent? Also, how to I keep the motor from turning when I do the final torque angle? Thanks again!
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Old May 10, 2016 | 04:29 PM
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When I installed mine, I purchased a giant Strap Wrench and used that to secure the damper from rotating. WORKS LIKE A CHAMP! I removed and reinstalled my damper and torqued the bolt by my self!




I also made my own install tool with an old bolt welded to some SAE All thread!

Last edited by Bill Curlee; May 10, 2016 at 04:30 PM.
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Old May 10, 2016 | 07:20 PM
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The ARP Bolt is REUSABLE,,,,, HOWEVER,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, DO NOT use the bolt to press the dampener on the crank. It can and usually does damage the crank threads.

I heat my dampener HUB with a torch to approx. 150-200 deg and it makes it easy to press on. Purchase /rent or borrow the proper install tool Or do like I did and make one.

Bill
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