<VV> FC Engines - Harmonic Balancer or not?

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

Although some will say this is heresy, maybe they are all off to 
convention --

I prefer the solid cast pulleys on a Corvair engine -- the design of the 
balancers is faulty and the stamped steel pulleys are not much better. 
On the balancer the pulley groove is in the rubber mounted part, and 
even when it is frequently inspected, the Lord only knows when it is 
going to fail, and with the a/c you are going to be increasing the load 
from the alternator.

Now the harmonic balancer IS a good idea, and they work -- it is just 
that on a Corvair, which has a much higher likelihood of balancer 
failure than say a 350 V-8 due to the poor design, when that balancer 
fails, it takes out the oil filter, and then also very likely, you are 
looking a broken crank.  When this happens away from home with a family 
driver, it becomes rather inconvenient. Them racer boys have a trailer 
and other transportation, so when it breaks, they aren't stranded, so 
don't listen to them.  Many of the show car guys don't drive in places 
where cell phones don't work. But if this happens say out near 
Wagontire, Oregon, on your way from Klamath Falls to Boise, whatcha 
gonna do?

Godspeed,

Bill Strickland