high-tech dampers

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This is a request for info for which I have no immediate need beyond assuaging curiosity. We've some current racers here who might have relevant experience, whereas all I'm getting is third-hand opinions. I'm curious about high-performance crankshaft harmonic dampeners, both the silicone-filled types such as Fluidamper, and the mechanical-element types such as Rattler. What are the merits and shortcomings of these, and their current standing among the savvier racers? And do you know of any lathe-owning do-it-yourselfers building dampeners? I might take a crack at this, if I get into outboard racing again.
 
If you have a lathe and some skill you could certainly make a pulley, or even interlocking pulleys, but how would you come up with a friction material or polymar or some sort of connecting material/fluid in the correct range to cancel out the proper frequencies of your engine at various speeds? I'm all for fabricated parts and other shiny bits on a mill or lathe, but I would think this could real easily turn into a losing proposition. OTOH, I have heard only good things about either one of the dampners, although the rattler is noisy, hence the name. Kinda pricey though...
 
8) the dampners you named are sfi certified and were originally designed for race engines. they work well on the street as well as they were designed to damp harmonic vibrations over a wide rpm band.
 
Has anyone adapted a v8 fluid damper to a 300 ford six? There has to be a popular engine whose crank snout matches the six.
 
You are re-inventing the wheel.

Some time back a group here on "FordSix" talked Fisher a company that makes perfomance harmonic balances into doing a run for the 300. Have heard of no complaints or about a need for improvement.
 
The Fisher damper , being an elastimer type damper ,like stock production dampers, are tuned for a specific narrow rpm range. The fluid damper , on the other hand , by its design, has a much wider rpm range because of its viscus fluid design. Unless Fisher can specify its specific damping range( street use or racing use) I would prefer adapting the more advanced fluid damper device. GM has recognized the advantages of the fluid damper and been marketing its own version for performance use for years.
 
Quite a while ago I had Fisher make me a balancer for my 200. It was a friction type balancer. Supposed to also cover a large range. Are they now making the elastimer type balancers? Can't make any recommendations as I have not run it yet.
 
I've got a magazine here someplace-states that for engines that turn less than 6000 rpm that the elastomeric balancer does a better job of dampening harmonics than the fluid type or rattler type balancer.
 
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