Harmonic Balancer or Crank Walk?

[Crazyjoker77]

Okay So while recently diagnosing some rather annoying issues ive been having with my car (which ill cover in a little bit) I noticed that the harmonic balancer is wobling while running (about a 1/8") now i've read quite a bit on crank walk and seem to have a few symptoms but the thing is my motor has 16000km on the 7bolt longblock which i bought from overbore.com(dont get me started on this POS of a company and the moron of a owner Mark) but they claim there motors are crankwalk free. It is also very likely that the harmonic balancer is shot as i reused it off my old motor which had 122k Miles on it.

couple things that make me believe that its crankwalk.
1- destroyed a crankshaft position sensor at 9000km

2- when the motor is first started and the rpms are still at around 1400 if i press the clutch in they will drop to around 1100-1200rpms if i let the clutch out they raise back up.

3- The car will always stall out when cold started about 5 times until it get to operating temperature which then it almost never stalls out.(this problem never occurred until after i rebuilt my throttlebody and started immediately after i put it all back together but since then Ive removed the TB 3 times and cannot find anything wrong)

4- I have some very inconsistent vacuum yet no boost leaks it will range anywhere from 15" to 19"

now keep in mind I am running a pretty modified car and not on the greatest tune in the world but it use to behave and perform alot better.

Now I know how to check for crankwalk and i will do once i get a hold of a magnetic base dial indicator but would just like to hear some discussion on the situation and am just wondering if it possible that it is just my harmonic balance that is causing all these issues.

 

[Artago]

Hey bud,

I'm the other moron that bought the 7-bolt from overbore.

Mine walked pretty quick but I think it was because I have a pivot ball shim on an ACT clutch which caused the clutch fork to grind the pressure plate putting a load on the thrust bearings. I THINK!....

I didn't install the pivot shim, my car came with it.

Anyways, the motor walked and destroyed everything. I had Mark at overbore rebuild it (free of charge except for shipping costs) and he sent it back. I ran the motor for about 200 miles and decided to rebuild my turbo (because it was smoking). Once I took the turbo apart I realized it was beyond a rebuild so I ordered a new one and waited.

In the time I was waiting I replaced the harmonic balancer because mine was wobbling about as much as yours. So I have a new Fluidampr now. So I was going to put everything back together but decided to go to an external wastegate setup. So I ordered the parts and waited.

While waiting again, I decided to drop my oil pan and check the crank for play just in case. I just used a feeler gauge to measure the play (not very accurate but it works). Well I measured 0.009" of play WTF which is right at the service limit. Keep in mind that this motor only has about 200 miles on it.

I don't really know what I'm saying except that I'm in the same boat you are with a motor build by the same guy as you.

Feel free to ask me specific questions and I will answer them.

Tom

PS: This motor has already cost me more $$$ than a fully built magnus or slowboy motor. Food for thought.

PPS: I too have yet to receive my core charge back.

 

[Artago]

Oh, I also had symptoms 2 and 3.

Regarding vacuum, mine is at 12HG and the comp test on the motor BEFORE it was rebuild by mark was 120 across. Haven't tested it since.

Tom

 

[Crazyjoker77]

Well thats definatly not what I was hoping to hear. So where abouts are you at with your car now. Did you drop in a 6bolt? or are you still running your motor that he rebuilt the second time?

At this point I'm ready to just throw a slowboy 6bolt 2.4L shortblock in it but it seems that all that is available is 6bolts which i have no problem with other than the fact of the $1300 kit required to make it work and finding a shop that i trust enough to perform the swap. I Have intentions of reusing my head which I havent had any issues with.

 

[Artago]

Well thats definatly not what I was hoping to hear. So where abouts are you at with your car now. Did you drop in a 6bolt? or are you still running your motor that he rebuilt the second time?

At this point I'm ready to just throw a slowboy 6bolt 2.4L shortblock in it but it seems that all that is available is 6bolts which i have no problem with other than the fact of the $1300 kit required to make it work and finding a shop that i trust enough to perform the swap. I Have intentions of reusing my head which I havent had any issues with.

Yeah I'm still on the 7-bolt he rebuilt. The car is down right now for upgrades. I'll be back up in 2 weeks.

Tom

 

[2litermonster]

2- when the motor is first started and the rpms are still at around 1400 if i press the clutch in they will drop to around 1100-1200rpms if i let the clutch out they raise back up.


this happens with my car but the other way around when first started the rpms are 1300 1200 when clutch is press it goes up mayb 1500 or so when let go backs down again..... interesting mayb ill drop the oil pan in mine to check

 

[Hardin]

Wouldn't hurt to check. Hopefully it's not bad news.

-Hardin