Tim McMaster is in the middle of creating a new 258 cu in Y-Block for the race truck and I would like to change to a fluid damper.  I had always heard that it was possible and I see pictures of them from time to time on Y-Blocks.  However, I have also heard that it was necessary to machine the snout to accept one because there were none made specifically for the Y.  We are a little reluctant to machining the snout due to possible problems with seals, keyways, etc. so I was wondering if anyone had a solution to using a fluid damper without any machining.  If machining is the only answer, what would the details of the project look like?

Thanks for any input pro or con.

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Charlie:

I believe Jerry Christenson had TCI make him a couple hubs to accept their generic damper.  I think he said they would keep the drawings so they could make more.  A few years ago I adapted a sbc Fluidamper to my Y, but it required some machine work and keyway broaching.

John in Selma, IN

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

John,

Thanks for the reply.  I will call Jerry asap.  If anyone else has ideas, please do not hesitate to jump in.  Together we will have an even better running Y.  (Next years goal for Bonneville.....130mph).

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Doesn't one of those damper companies make a "bolt on" damper for a bird? Then you'll just have to line up your alternator.



Maybe if 10 or 20 of us get together we can persuade one of those companies to produce one. I'm up for it.



There was a good discussion about these a while back.


Lawrenceville, GA

I wonder if you sent a stock damper to FluidDamper if they would be able to whip something up. They could remove the ring and the rubber and install one of their own dampers.



Edit; I just sent Fluidampr an email. You might want to connect to their website and do the same.



http://www.fluidampr.com/index.html



Click on the 'contacts' link to leave them a message.

Best regards,



Paul Menten

Meridian, Idaho

After doing two different dyno sessions concentrating on harmonic damper testing with a pair of FE engines, fluid filled dampers were far from being adequate performers when compared to other brands and designs as well as when compared to the stock oem dampers. For a performance Y, the ATI brand of dual elastometer dampers is my damper of choice and especially where the rules require an SFI approved damper. ATI does make a hub for the Y which allows their dampers to be used with the stock Y timing pointer but the pricing for them has skyrocketted during this last year so be prepared for sticker shock. The ATI (or other brands) damper for an LS1 engine is also an option as they have a longer snout and merely need about 0.004” honed from their bore to allow them to fit the Y’s crankshaft snout. I can’t tell you off hand if this damper’s snout is long enough to clear the stock Y timing cover but I have to cut the snout down to fit the marine covers.

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A standard scrub damper with a machined spacer behind it for the timing cover seal is also another option as these have come through the shop and will work with the standard Y timing cover with the sleeve in place. The same 0.004” must be machined from these dampers also. With these retrofitted dampers, the 0 mark on the outer ring isn’t in the right place and you have to reference another number for the TDC but these dampers are at least marked the whole 360°. This is just a nuance to saving a bit of expense if using one of the scrub dampers in lieu of the one that’s specific for the Y and it’s one of these retrofits from ATI that’s on my roadster engine now.

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If ordering an ATI damper that’s made for the Y, then specify drawing #SK069 for the correct hub.

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Older links regarding the aforementioned dyno testing.

Club Cobra 64406

FE Forum 1057338408

FE Forum 1117417685

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And more links on the subject on this site:

http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic2966.aspx
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic7834.aspx
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic9059.aspx
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/Topic11223.aspx

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A little lengthy but as you can tell, I’m not a fluid filled damper fan. Disclaimer: Just my opinion.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted,

        What's the problem with the FluidDamper? I don't question the results, but I don't understand the reason. Very interesting that a solid Factory cast damper produced good numbers, That goes against everything I ever read! Which probably means it's 100% correct.

        Also, is there some method to calculate the mass required for a given amount of Cylinder pressure, or is this also a function of the crank stiffness, rotatng mass? Flywheel weight?

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

John, Charlie, PC, Frank, and especially Ted, thanks for the input.  Wow, that is what this forum is all about.

I did email Fluidampr, but they haven't returned it yet.  I was hoping to see if they had helped any Y-Blockers in the past.

I called Jerry Christenson and we had a great conversation.  We have talked on the phone for a couple of years now and I should have thought to call him earlier.  Sometimes you just do not want to go to the well too often.  Jerry doesn't do the internet, so he has no idea of the sharing that goes on here unless someone calls him and fills him in.  He is a most generous person with his time and expertise.  There is no need to print everything he said because it would just be rewriting what Ted stated.  However, he likes ATI, don't like fluid filled dampers, ATI is expensive, likes the idea of a scrub unit with a machined spacer for the front seal, and by all means I should get rid of the stock damper.

Please feel free to continue this thread as I need all the help I can get............Thanks

Charlie Burns Laton, Ca (South of Fresno)



BurnsRacing981@gmail.com

Let's see, you have the record, or did for a while, and I broke. WHO needs help?

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Well, we want to get the Bonneville record back for the Y, and he needs to beat that Dodge by a nice margin.

 He still has the record at Maxton and El Mirage!

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias