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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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#53394 12/13/2005 4:15 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 18 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 18 | I own an all original unrestored 1953 3800 with 216 motor. I know it has the original engine and original harmonic pulley on the front of it. Question is can this 52 years old balancer be functioning properly? I would think the rubber ring would deteriorate. How long can these last. Am I risking a crankshaft failure? | | |
#53395 12/13/2005 4:35 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | Getting oil on it will kill them faster than anything. How does it look? Is it weather checked or oil soaked? Is the outer ring still in line with the inner? Can you put some force against it with a prybar and get excessive movement? I've only heard of replacing them when they fail or while one is already off. May also open a can of worms trying to replace it as preventative maintanence too.
Just somethings to think about,
Scott | | |
#53396 12/14/2005 1:58 PM | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 212 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 212 | I'm sure they do fail, but I personally have never heard of one doing so. I'm not a professional mechanic, but I have been a car nut all my life. If it looks ok, I would take the "if it's not broke, don't fix it route" Allen | | |
#53397 12/14/2005 6:58 PM | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 | Yes, they can and will fail. The lifespan of rubber is short, and depends on the formulation and use, and oil will shorten that time. Problem is replacing it. I have found two outits that will rebuild the damper, and they're far from cheap. Most of us continue running the original. My friend is using a fluid filled damper for a small block on his 261, he dad to modify the damper come up with a pulley setup.
Fred
52 3600
69 C-10
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#53398 12/14/2005 8:45 PM | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 1,586 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 1,586 | The dampers on 216-261 and some GMC's is different than the typical V-8 damper.It's like a sandwich,plates with rubber in between,it can't slip and spin due to the construction of thru rivits.
Fred,a third place,Dale's Damper rebuilding does a better job for less money,about 100 bucks for any damper,search the web for his address.Dale says he uses a rubber with the same hardness as the original to keep the damper tuning proper.The weight of the internia ring and the rubber is tuned for a certain rpm,whatever that may be.
I was gonna use a Fluidamper on my recent 302 GMC build,but I heard of crankshaft and bearing failures directly related to the use of this style damper when used on GMC 6's.The 302 damper ,at least most of them,is similar to a V-8 type,the outer ring on mine slipped and when I removed it,the outer ring actually fell off!!! | | |
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