Topic: which harmonic balancer?

[stealthninja]

I have a 1977 Trans Am with a 400 CI crate engine. I noticed my harmonic balancer is pretty wobbly, I figure I need to replace it. Can anybody point me in the right direction to buying the right one? I am very new to older cars, muscle cars, so any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cory

[joe d]

go to local parts house and buy a dorman

[SavingTheBird76]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ELVHQA/ref=asc_df_B001ELVHQA1938845?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=pg-95-01-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395097&creativeASIN=B001ELVHQA

$81 and free shipping...great looking balancer with timing marks permanently etched in surface.

[Tin Indians Rule]

Do you know how to check your harmonic balancer to find out if its bad?

[SavingTheBird76]

I'm guessing it's 40 years old and rusted terribly

[Tin Indians Rule]

Rubber is the main ingredient in a balancer that you need to be concerned with most.

[joe d]

rust is not good reason to replace it as tin stated rubber is the main issue and if yours is wobbling sounds like rubber is gonso
make sure it is not loose on the crank as well. they are easy to test as when you take hold of the damper on opposing sides and move side to side if the rubber is bad the outer ring will flex

[stealthninja]

I don't see any rust and the engine barely has 2 oil changes worth of miles on it. I think its just old and the rubber is worn like the more knowledgeable previous posters have posted. I will give it a wobble check when the rain lets off. can anybody post a pic with directional arrows to show me where to grab and wiggle please. I don't know what a damper looks like....
Sorry for the lack of knowledge.
Thank you very much for what you have already done and if you can provide any further assistance.

Cory

[joe d]

I don't see any rust and the engine barely has 2 oil changes worth of miles on it. I think its just old and the rubber is worn like the more knowledgeable previous posters have posted. I will give it a wobble check when the rain lets off. can anybody post a pic with directional arrows to show me where to grab and wiggle please. I don't know what a damper looks like....
Sorry for the lack of knowledge.
Thank you very much for what you have already done and if you can provide any further assistance.

Cory

if you look at the balancer it will look like a large outer ring, a rubber ring, then a smaller inner hub, grab the outer portion (outside perimeter of rubber) at 9:00 and 3:00 then push in and out opposing each hand

[stealthninja]

Thank you very much and I will check asap.

[stealthninja]

So do I need to pull off the pulley to check this? I popped open the hood and shook it but didnt feel anything wobble but I think I did it wrong or need to detach the pulley first. I think I should just get a new one but I would love to save 80 bucks...

[joe d]

So do I need to pull off the pulley to check this? I popped open the hood and shook it but didnt feel anything wobble but I think I did it wrong or need to detach the pulley first. I think I should just get a new one but I would love to save 80 bucks...

when you first posted you said it had a wobble, where is this wobble? and yes removing the pully would be easier

[Tin Indians Rule]

Is it possible you are seeing the conterweight "bobble"

[Mongo]

If it is an original, It should be replaced. There is a thread on here about what happens when they break. Not Good Batman!  I didnt want to take the chance so I bought the same one that SavingTheBird76 posted. Good insurance!

[stealthninja]

I am not sure I will take a video and post it on youtube and post a link to it on here. I will post it tonight.
 I don't know much about these counterweight and balancers.
 The only reason I think its bad is my neighbor noticed it looked funny.
It drives like a beast (but I don't want to break it).
Thanks in advance for your patience and help guys it means alot for a young military guy like me. (don't have alot of free time to try and figure it out.)