VTX1800N1

Rebuilding my son's 2002 GT engine, I'm about to order more parts and have to choose a damper. LMR sells some for less than $200, but I haven't heard of those manufacturers before. The two big players in the damper field are ATI and Fluidampr.

Cost for either is the same at ~$380. This engine will be N/A with Manley forged pistons, forged rods, stock crank, .020 over, and possibly TFS 38cc heads with a TFS Stage II cam for a CR somewhere in the neighborhood of 11.25:1 (according to the guy I talked to at MHS). Not absolutely sure he can afford the heads yet, but we'll see.

I called Fluidampr this morning and they no longer make a damper for this engine, part number 660202. They said it was never a big seller for them, so they discontinued it. I do like the idea of the Fluidampr better than the traditional design like the ATI damper, in that the Fluidampr should protect against harmonic vibrations over all RPM ranges, instead of being tuned to a specific RPM like traditional balancers are. There are still a few Fluidampr balancers out there, so I could pick one up for the same price.

Opinions on the pros and cons of each design?

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VTX1800N1

Well, this may have been in vain. I contacted the seller on Amazon and it turns out he sold them on eBay and no longer has any inventory. Glad I asked. Still interested in which is a better design.

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school boy

The main question is what rpm limit will you be at?

VTX1800N1

For now, stock RPM limit. He doesn't have enough cash for an aftermarket intake plenum. That is much easier to change than the heads, and the original heads are trash because the cam bridge retainer bolts were loose and the cams walked, destroying the heads and bridge retainers (and the metal that went through the engine destroyed the rest of it). The stock intake stalls out at 6500 RPM for a stock displacement engine. He is bored .020 over, which adds 2 cubes. Combine that with the higher flowing TFS heads and it's not doing the stock intake any favors when it comes to upper RPM limit power. He may eventually go with a TF intake, but that is down the road a ways.

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school boy

You could go with a cobra balancer, they do well up to 7000 rpms. March and the new Steeda balancers do well too.

ESABATM

The Mach 1 will also work well for this too.