Since you say it vibrates with out being driven, and vibrates differently at different speeds and worse under load. It does sound like a balance issue with the engine itself, or whatever is bolted to it, like the clutch. Having a load behind it would just amplify the shake. Since the engine did it before the question would be did it shake at the same rpms and with the same frequency? It looks like it will take a step by step process to diagnose. Sorry about that I understand your frustration.
I understand where the guys are coming from on the spark plug wires because I have a supercharged 90 MK VII and when its just out of tune a bit (like one wire or plug bad) that lack of one working pot really makes the car run rough. Because of the blower, what joe blow in his regular lincoln wouldn't really notice is quite amplified on my motor. However, in this case, its kind of a regular vibe and it is carried through out the rpm range.
With your engine running right now the old vibration or out of balance condition could be amplified more than it was in its original anemic state.
So the first change would be to put the right balancer on it and see how that helps, and then proceed from there. It may have been wrong for quite a while. Another case would be somekind of warp in the clutch, so maybe if the shop can pull the tranny off/back and run the motor and see if the vibe is there, that would be a 2nd step. Next would be pull off the clutch, and run it, if the vibe is still there, then at least you know its confined to the motor.
I thought I used to see a fludic type harmonic balancer that worked like those wheel ones that the goo distributed itself about in them to balance bad wheels, etc. Anyone ever try one of those on wheels or motor? Or are they just another magentic-fuel-line-spark-amplifier-snake oil special? :rolleyes:
