R series balancer repos...

[Jeff T.]

I see a number of our vendors are selling reproduction harmonic balancers for R series engines. Aside from the obvious answer ($190.00 or so) what is the difference between a regular disc balancer for a 259 or 289 and the R series unit. Put another way, if I bought one would it make any difference in the way my V8 ran, snd would I have to buy a lot more stuff to keep the belt(s) in alignment.

just wondering

Jeff T.

"I'm getting nowhere as fast as I can"
The Replacements.

[Thomas63R2]

To some degree you can run without a balancer. The R series damper is better suited for the anticipated higher RPMs that an R motor is likely to encounter. Your crankshaft whips/deflects a little bit as the various power pulses hit it, dampening those oscillations increases the crankshaft life and can help to make an engine feel smoother running.

Thomas

Long time hot rodder
Packrat junk collector
'63 Avanti R2 4 speed