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Crank Pulley/Balancer Opinions

BlackGS

BlackGS

New member
I am building up my engine and tranny right now and considering replacing the stock balancer. There are a couple different options I'm exploring, and would appreciate any feedback on these:

Option 1: Replace the stocker with a PowerBond stock-size 8-rib unit. That would cost $129.

Option 2: Replace with the ZZP SFI oversized 8-rib balancer. Cost would be a little over $400 as I would have to replace the pulley and belt, and install an oil neck spacer. I don't really need an oversized balancer with my setup, but that is the only SFI option from ZZP.

Option 3: Replace with the ATI SFI stock-size balancer from Intense for $499.

Is it worth it to step up to the ATI? How good is the PowerBond? Any other options out there?
 


just get an h-body balancer. they are way nicer than the stock w-body ones.

are you looking to go 8 rib or do you want to get a nicer balancer..or both?
 
Got any picture of the H-Body balancers Bio? Ive never heard anyone recommend one of those before. What makes them nicer? Will they interchange with the W-Body balancer? We do have those interupter wheels on the back for the crankshaft sensor, does the H-Body balancer have the same stuff in the same configuration?
 
i dont have any pictures and i didnt have any luck googling it either. if you look on the backside of the stock balancer the balancing weight is only one one small portion of it whereas the h-body balancer has a ring around the entire balancer.

so in a sense, it is better balanced than the stock w-body balancer is.
 
If you are referring to 2000+ Bonneville, that is the same balancer according to the Bonne guys. If you know different, that would be great (and probably cheaper), but would it be better than a PowerBond?

Edit: I found this. It looks like the Series III motors improved upon the balancer. However, looking at a pic, it doesn't appear to be any different.

"DAMPOLATOR VIBRATION BALANCER
The 3800 Series III features a Dampolator that combines the best features of different devices designed to reduce torsional vibration in the crankshaft.

Because of their cylinder configuration, 90-degree V-6 engines can create torsional vibration in the crank—essentially flexing along the length of the crankshaft—at certain engine speeds. Engineers have developed various means of either damping or counteracting this flex. One solution is a standard damper, or a mass (usually a pulley-like disc) fitted to the front end of the crank with a thin rubber spring. Dampers are effective at controlling crank vibration at higher engine speeds, typically above 4500 rpm. Another option is an isolator, which uses a thick rubber spring on a tuned pulley to prevent low-speed crank vibration from passing through the accessory drive belt to components such as the water pump or air conditioning compressor. An isolator is effective only at low engine speeds.

The Series III Dampolator delivers the benefits of both a damper and isolator. This computer-tuned crank balancer consists of two separate discs with two rubber springs of different thickness. It is effective at both ends of the rpm range and as a result, reduces vibration and harshness regardless of engine speed."

PIC in this thread:
http://www.bonnevillepro.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=4089&start=30&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
 
Last edited:
BlackGS said:
...PIC in this thread:
BonnevillePRO.com • View topic - My topswapped, lightly modded L26 thread
Click to expand...

Page 13, to save you some searching.

I've a pic there of the back of the 1998 Series 2 H-body L36 balancer (left) and the 2005 Series 3 Buick LaCrosse L26 balancer (right):
L26255.jpg


The L36 does have a single weight on one side, while the L26 is weighted all around. Can't say if it really made a difference, because I replaced all my mounts :th_winking:

The p/n on the 2005 is the same as any 2000+ H-body, so the Series 3 balancer being something "new" is crap. :th_laugh-lol3:

In other words, any 2000+ H-body n/a balancer would look like the one on the right.

Do the L67/L32 H-body balancers follow the same pattern with the weighting? I don't know, but I'd bet they do.
 


I looked at pics from a 04 and 05 L36 balancers. While a lot of stuff from 04-05 L36/L67s is shared with their Series III brothers, apparently the balancer isn't one of them. Still go the old school Series II version.
 
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