: 77 model slant 6./---/ engine was put in a 87 model dodge van./---/I do have another balancer

: off an 82 model engine that i could try if some
: of you think that this is the problem?
:
: **************************************************
: Questions.....Did you have the original '77
: vintage balancer for the '77 engine? Did you
: put an '87 balancer on a '77 engine/crank
: assy.? I am presuming you used the '77 block
: and crank together, is this true?
:
: I'm leaning toward a difference between
: balancers, but it's possible the outer ring
: "slipped" in relationship to the
: center hub on the balancer. It has been
: known to happen, but usually with rather old
: balancers.
:
: This may be a question better fielded by Doug,
: and he'll probably jump in here if I'm
: wrong. Mopar went to a cast crank in later
: years, but I can't remember what year. I'm
: suspecting you have a cast crank balancer on
: a steel crank engine.
:
: Any other/better opinions?
:
: Roger

: just got thru putting rings and bearing in a 77
: model slant 6. engine runs good and sames to
: run smooth at a idle but give it much gas
: and it has a pretty bad vibration in it. the
: engine was put in a 87 model dodge van. i
: did notice that when i had the engine apart
: that when #1 piston was at TDC that the
: balancer was between 6 to 8 degrees off on
: the timing tab. i do have another balancer
: off an 82 model engine that i could try if
: some of you think that this is the problem?
: in fact i'm going to try that tommorrow i
: think.
:
: also when i got the van it had a broke
: connecting rod that cracked the block so i
: got the 77 model engine to go in it. is
: there a difference in the torque converters
: for these years? i did'nt notice any weights
: on the converter or there suppose to be some
: for a 77 model engine?

: '77,'82, and'87 are all cast crank motors. I
: have run cast crank balancers on steel crank
: motors with no problems. We have never been
: able to find any difference between cast and
: steel crank balancers. (This topic has come
: up before) I would investigate the ring
: slipping theory. Dennis

: The converter and balancer should be the same.
: I have seen some real late model cast iron
: pulleys with a big weight cast onto them,
: does your Van use one of these?
:
: Do you see any wobble in the front damper, you
: may as well swap it if you have a
: replacement. (use the correct tools!)
:
: You may want to run a compression check on the
: engine, just to be sure there is not a low
: compression cylinder causing the problem.
: Hopefully there is not a bent con rod or a
: badly "off-weight" piston in
: there.
:
: I would also pull-off the flex plate / T.
: converter dust cover and double check the
: converter alignment. Loosen the four flex
: plate bolts a few turns. Do you see any gap
: opening up betwen the flexplate and
: converter mounting lugs? See if you can push
: the converter up & down, (a big screw
: driver or pry bar will help) Basically you
: need to be sure the converter nose seated
: "on center" in the back of the
: crank. Never pull the converter into the
: back of the crank with the flexplate bolts,
: it should all pull together with no gap so
: the bolts can be screwed in fully by hand.
:
: You can start the engine with the converter
: inspection cover off and check to see if
: everything is spinning true. I spend a bunch
: of time getting all the alignment correct on
: high RPM SL6 engines. I check run-out with a
: dial indicator to see how far-off the
: factory was with this stuff. I always do
: some adjusting because it is never right on
: center. The factory service manual even
: shows how to check and adjust the engine to
: trans. alignment and it is important for
: both manual and automatic applications.
:
: I had one set-up recently where the block to
: tranny bellhousing mounting face was not
: square. I ended-up using brass shim stock
: and a "more flexable" flex plate
: to get rid of most all of the vibration
: (still have a bit at 72 MPH then it goes
: away??)
: I would not "drill and slice" a flex
: plate (as pictured below) for a high output
: race car but this is a pretty good trick for
: a smooth running street set-up.
: DD

: well changing the balancer had no effect so i
: took a look at the balancer and torque
: converter while the engine was running at a
: high idle both looked good and steady but it
: does'nt vibrate until a higher rpm anyway
: and i was by myself with no way to crawl
: underneath and keep the rpm's up.
:
: so i took out the converter bolts and the
: converter has a gap between it and the
: flexplate with the bolts out. you just can
: get the converter bolts started back in the
: converter when its loose. but the converter
: turns freely by hand but when i turn the
: engine by hand the converter turns with the
: engine also without any bolts in it. i tried
: spinning the converter with the starter
: without the bolts in it to see if maybe this
: would help aline if it was off some. when i
: started the bolts back in the converter
: there still was enough gap that they just
: would start with a couple of threads. so i
: would make a couple turns with a wrench on
: each bolt trying to bring it to the
: flexplate evenly as possible but this did'nt
: help.
:
: also with this transmission i can turn the
: engine while its in park at the balancer
: with a wrench but with the rear jacked up
: and in park you can't turn the driveshaft
: does this sound like i have something broke
: in the transmission?
:
: it shifts fine i don't know what else to do has
: anyone ever had a converter cause a problem
: like this?

: I took out the converter bolts and the
: converter has a gap between it and the
: flexplate with the bolts out. you just can
: get the converter bolts started back in the
: converter when its loose. The converter
: turns freely by hand but when i turn the
: engine by hand, the converter turns with the
: engine also without any bolts in it. I tried
: spinning the converter with the starter
: without the bolts in it to see if maybe this
: would help aline if it was off some. when i
: started the bolts back in the converter
: there still was enough gap that they just
: would start with a couple of threads. so i
: would make a couple turns with a wrench on
: each bolt trying to bring it to the
: flexplate evenly as possible but this did'nt
: help.
:
: also with this transmission i can turn the
: engine while its in park at the balancer
: with a wrench but with the rear jacked up
: and in park you can't turn the driveshaft
: does this sound like i have something broke
: in the transmission?