Top dead centre. Harmonic balancer way out.

[Lucky'57]

Looking for a hormonic balancer for my 292 (or I could be a 312, who the heck knows), anyway, I did a compression check on the old girl and averaged 170 psi, give or take 10 psi on all cylinders. Anyway, while I was there I tried to figure out the stroke length (to determine 292 or 312), by the way, that didn't work out for me, it's just a few Thow right? I don't think that can be done from there... .

But back to my Balancer, last time I checked (set the timing by ear last summer, that's 3 months ago for anyone South of Canada) and it was running great, about @14 off the mark I had, since then the mark has slipped, I mean a lot, like about @10, it still has several other marks on there (4 of them, everyone increasing by about @10). I heard these have some kind of a rubber in their that slips (Gosh, we've all had that happen haven't we).

Anyway, I've put a new mark on it, she's running like a sowing machine, but sounding a little rough  (Cough, cough, must be the firing order...)

[jumping jack flash]

Yep, the old slipping rubber disaster. If you ever turn up any serious rpms on your y block , one of the first things to worry about is that outer ring coming off and becoming a mistle.. I have had the displeasure of seeing 2 bystanders killed at dragstrips. One was a harmonic balancer coming apart from a 390 Ford. A piece went into the stands and killed a young boy. At the same strip an experimental dragster unzipped the ring gear on the flex plate. It went through a crew member's neck.The bad timing is the least thing to worry about. There are some fine hi-po parts available these days, that were not when I was running a y-block. I'd make that one a high priority.

[hiball3985]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/falconglobal/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2654 These people and John Mummerts are the only people that distribute the new ones. They are made in Australia and top quality and have graduation marks up to 40 degrees. I don't no of any other sources. I put one on my 292 when I built it.

[John Palmer]

I would agree that you need to replace the dampener.

Even if you use a piston stop to determine TDC, then mark the new TDC location on your dampener, it's just going to move again.  I've seen dampeners so bad on various ford engines, that you could watch them move with a timing light while holding the engine at a steady 2000 RPM.  I did Tune Up, and Electrical work for a Ford Dealership during the 1960's and it was very common to find loose rings on dampeners even when they were still relatively new cars.

[hiball3985]

heres the direct link to the part, sorry
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-F100-car-292-damper-balancer-1955-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-Mercury-312-/171119313455?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27d781822f

[Lucky'57]

Got it. Thanks for the info.

Ron

[Lucky'57]

Just one last thing. My Fairlane came with Factory Air and the balancer has three belt groves. I haven't had it apart yet but should I be looking for a replacement with the three belt grooves or could I be able to use the flange off the old one? From what I can tell there is only the centre nut holding this together...

Update -
Hold on, I think I have my answer, looked on the web site and they say " WE ALSO OFFER THIS DAMPER WITH AN ALUMINUM DUAL PULLEY FOR APPLICATIONS WITH POWER STEERING AND/OR AIR CONDITIONING. THIS COMBO IS LISTED ON EBAY FOR $350."

Looks like I'll have to keep looking for now.

One more update - I just talked to the fella at Falcon Performance and he indicated they used to sell an aluminium bolt on pulley to enable the three belts (PS & Air) but have since pulled the ad as they ran out of stock. He believes he has seen others on Ebay but doesn't recall where. I'll keep looking.

[Jeff Norwell]

I had this issue on a non ford engine(chrysler hemi)Yes.I stepped up to a modern fluid Dampner.
Spendy, but a wise and good investment over OEM.

[Lucky'57]

Just an FYI. I got some feedback from Damper Doctor in Redding CA. and he indicated that my three pulley damper was extreemly rare, however they could rebuild it in a couple of days ($168). He said to make sure I insure it for loss when shipping, the last time he had one of these he sold the core for $500.

Damper Doctor <damperdoc@aol.com>

[RICH MUISE]

Let us know how the rebuilding goes....sounds like a place we need to add to our list of services....but I'll wait til I get a feedback from you.