Stevec

I was wondering if anyone here has used a Fluidampr Harmonic Balancer? I've been reading up on them and they seem like a great product and they look like it will accept a factory crank pulley as well.

BIGJERR

I have going on my new motor.......Hope there a good piece myself....

copper128

Never heard any criticism of Fluidampr quality, though some don't particularly care for the design - right or wrong.
I would have no problem using one myself. Made right in my backyard, too. The factory is about a half hour drive, and it's a family-owned company.

Qwik71442

Been using one for a little over ten years with no problems and yes it will accept factory pulleys....

http://www.fluidampr.com//

SBORule

Are we talking about a Fluidampner or one made by an oversea's company ?

I have been tempted to buy one from CAT but I desided not to.

Something to concider is how much does the dampner weigh ?

Look and see what the top performing Olds engines have bolted on, go with that one.

VORTECPRO

ati

380 Racer

According to the directions (IIRC) for proper installation......the fluid in the dampner needs to be warmed up before it does it's job properly. In other words run it for 10-15 minutes. Get an ATI.

Stevec

Hey 380 what about using a factory crank pulley with the ATI? I heard you have to drill holes in the pulley,I really would like something that I can bolt a stock pulley on. How hard is it to line up and redrill new holes? Have any of you guys done this?

380 Racer

Yup did that with a Batten 30% reduction pulley on my car. No big deal. Or go to Moroso and get the right BBC pulley.

Stevec

Innovators West makes a nice harmonic balancer as well! Aluminum,will use a factory pulley and its less than 8lbs.

67 Cutlass Freak

I have the Innovators West Balancer myself, which does have the correct bolt pattern. It's also rebuildable. They even make one that is already set up with magnets for a crank trigger. Mine was not. I have heard the ATI unit is also top of the line. My machine shop had a very difficult time balancing my rotating assembly. I guess because the fluid shifts around inside, but I really don't know why. I would steer clear of the CAT brand. They do not have a good reputation for staying together.
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507OLDS

I have a Fluidamper balancer on the 507.I purchased it in 1996,and did not use it until the engine was built in 1999.I have not have any issues with it at all.However,I do remember that they changed manufacturing process or location,so the modern ones are NOT the same as the older ones.
The ATI is one of the best ones out there now.Redrilling the holes in the crank pulley is not a problem.One of your existing holes already lines up.You just need to drill 2 new holes.I have a pulley that is redrilled,if you want to use it,borrow,or keep.It is a 3-groove style.If you need a 2-groove,I could take one of my less-than-perfect pulleys,and redrill it.

copper128

Actually Brian, I believe they are still the same however the original company (Vibratech, formerly Houdaille Industries) was bought by Horschel Brothers, a high-tech machine/manufacturing firm based in Springville, NY. They now own and operate Vibratech as a division and still produce the original Fluidampr products, just with a different parent company.

Houdaille invented the viscous damper in 1946. Of course, the fluid-filled damper concept has been copied by several China-based companies, including CAT and RPM, probably others.