[DeTomaso] Harmonic Balance. Food for thought.

[Charles Engles]

Dear Tony,


             You wrote:


> Ain't that the truth:  Today, I was stripping down the Cleveland I broke
> last May after 10 years of pounding it to death at Pocono.  I suddenly
> noticed the stock, 30-year old, harmonic balancer had failed.  The outer
> ring and rubber sandwich had migrated backward and was now lightly
> contacting the timing cover.  That's like a third of an inch.  I had often
> seen references here to walking timing marks and checked mine annually.
> This year it was fine as usual before the event, but by the end of the day
> it was as discovered today.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$      Hmm,  I had a very similar failure on my track car 
after several years of track events and, ahem, highway driving.  It was a 
stock balancer and had slipped off zero as well as backwards.and was rubbing 
on the front cover.     I agree that spirited Pantera driving makes 
continuing to use a modest stock balancer a risky proposition.


>
> For reference, I bought a new SFI-rated replacement from Summit for $188 
> for
> the new engine.  Nice piece and cheaper than all the viscous dampers. 
> Also
> bought a zinc-plated new replacement timing cover from Summit for $128. 
> Way
> better than all the stock covers I've ever had.  Somehow timing covers 
> seem
> to age at twice the rate of the rest of the engine parts.  Anyone ever 
> seen
> one that wasn't all ratty?  They don't even clean up well.  And the 
> threads
> on the two lower water pump bolts are usually tenuous at best.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$    For what it is worth, I have had the front cover and 
other engine bits coated with aluminized ceramic, which is th same stuff 
used on headers.   It is impervious to engine heat, antifreeze, oil, etc. 
So far it hasn't failed over eight years.   It is easy to clean and reuse. 
Cost of coating was about $20.00.


                           Warmest regards,   Chuck Engles