Prepping for Plenum fix/tune-up, do I have it all?
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 15
From: Somewhere in Kentucky
Your so close to doing the t-chain it's almost irresistible . I doubt the chain is overly stretched , but , that damn timing cover gasket is prone to leak . Yeah , the balancer has to be removed , but , Most 5.9's at that K need or have new ones . Visually , the seal in the damper starts coming out and you may see some oil at the crank seal , with the engine running , it would wobble . You need to look at it from a side angle . Have a look at it as well . Both are common issues so catch it now if it needs doing 
, and you're right there !
, and you're right there !
If it's a daily driver and you have the time to do it by all means do it. But you don't need to go overboard.
Rookie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, TX
I would be careful with the harmonic balancer. I have heard horror stories about guys changing them out with new ones and having issues because the new balancer wasn't balanced like the old one. A mechanic friend who rebuilds engines role me that he rebalances a new harmonic balancer to match the old one before he puts them on. He says a gram in the wrong place can cause issues. I'm not a mechanic so I can't speak to this beyond what I was told. My .2
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 15
From: Somewhere in Kentucky
Alright. I'll give my machine shop a call and see what they say.
Are the harmonic balancers balanced to a specific crankshaft? I have a spare Harmonic Balancer off another Dodge Ram, same year and engine. The rubber on it is coming apart. If I have that re-balanced, would that work, or should I use the one that's currently on my truck?
Just thinking that having the spare one rebalanced makes it easier when I swap it out.
Are the harmonic balancers balanced to a specific crankshaft? I have a spare Harmonic Balancer off another Dodge Ram, same year and engine. The rubber on it is coming apart. If I have that re-balanced, would that work, or should I use the one that's currently on my truck?
Just thinking that having the spare one rebalanced makes it easier when I swap it out.
Rookie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, TX
Definitely call the machine shop and see what they say. It never hurts to have too much information. If and when I replace mine I will have it balanced to match the original. Not sure about cost or anything, but I trust my friend who has been rebuilding engines for 30+ years. Other than that I don't know a lot about the process.
Thread Starter
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Madison, WI
Also, another question for all of you. Where should I look to order all of this? Other than the Hughes plate should I just do all of it off RockAuto?
Last edited by schmidtp; Feb 27, 2015 at 12:34 PM.
