“Antique” Harmonic Balancer ?

[Nutfield]

A conversation at work the other day made me wonder if the 25 year old balancer/vibration dampener should be replaced on my 1990 Mustang 5.0 (with 49,000 miles) or is it good forever?
Any thoughts are welcome.

[390gtconv]

On my '67 when I was rebuilding it, the balancer a concern. Rubber was cracked and had in rebuilt. On a '90, I'd not be to concerned. Is rubber looking ok> Do you have a timing issue? If not I'd leave it. Or check price of new one, if short money put your mind at ease.
My .02

[Nutfield]

Thanks for the info. I want to remove the underdrive crank pulley and put the original crank pulley back on (to increase the boost on the Kenne Bell) but the iron socket head cap screws that came with the underdrive pulley feel like they are rusted in place and I am afraid that I will break them if I pull any harder. And heating the bolts probably won't do the rubber in the balancer any good.
Is there a mechanic in the club that I could take this to, to remove the bolts and replace the balancer? Someone that would understand that this is my baby?:rolleyes:

[EL1NOR]

I'm right in Chester on the town line with Derry. I've got a Bendpak 4-post and an impact gun that can do it easily if there's room to reach it. If not, you could always do the driveway-mechanic technique of putting a breaker bar on it, resting the bar on the driveway on the drivers side, disconnecting the ignition and just cranking the engine over to do it. Not ideal but it works in a bind!

[Nutfield]

Thanks for the offer. I guess I am too afraid of breaking the bolts. Those bolt holes would be needed to pull the balancer. I removed the fan and shroud but I can't get my electric impact gun in there without removing the radiator too, though an air gun is probably smaller than my electric gun. I soaked the bolts with WD-40 Specialist Penetrate (another reason that I didn't want to heat the bolts!) and tried tapping a breaker bar with a hammer, still no luck. I replaced the motor mounts (with mounts for a convertible that make the engine sit a bit lower to provide a little more hood clearance for the blower snout) when I installed some SS shorty headers. The original mounts were cracked and torn, so it might be time for a new balancer too.

[EL1NOR]

Are you replacing the balancer regardless? If so, it shouldn't matter if the pulley bolts break. A claw puller would still work to remove the balancer.. just wouldn't be AS fun. Those pulley bolts are known to break during INSTALLATION more than removal but hey, we've all run into our fair share of rusted nightmare bolts!

[390gtconv]

For a stuck bolt, try the fairly new CRC FREEZE penetrating spray.
First if where ever when ever you have stuck bolt most times the shock of an impactvabrates and is more successful. It has setting. Start on lower impact setting to see if little vabration work, if not go only little higher. If not, I'd heat gentle with hand held propane torch then freeze just bolt with CRC Freeze. Then try to remove. Note if just head of bolt showing a penetrating spray such as PB Blaster or WD40 penetrating spray won't do much.
The above methods should work. Note a breaker bar bar not good for a stuck bolt, will just twist head right off. Remember impact vibrates it, much better in this case.
If not and breaks, ways to get that out too.

[Nutfield]

just googled "crc freeze". I might borrow a butterfly wrench from work next weekend too. I don't know if it will have enough torque but it WILL fit. Good ideas, Thanks.