Need this thing?
 

Guys,
I've had this super rattly and heavy hunk of bracket hanging way off the end of my trans tailhousing. The rivets holding the end are all shot, so I pulled it off tonight and fired her up, and the car was suddenly quieter. So far I've only just idled it in the garage since it came off.

Anyhow, what's this (vibration damper of some sort I think) officially called and do I really need to put it back on?

68 289 C4

I think that thing would be far more useful tied to a rope next time you take your row boat out fishing...

What is that thing? I don't know that I've ever seen one. Or if I have, I didn't have enough sense to ask what it was.

Hmm.. Ive never seen one either.

Its the Flux Capacitor! It wont do much for shifting but really helps to get back to 1955

You're right. There was one of those on a 1970 Galixie I once owned. One day, I went over a speed bump too quickly and hit that thing. It broke off, taking with it part of the tail housing that I had to replace. I never put that thing back on.

BTW, one's for sale on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-19...-/161126682434

Use to see those all the time when I was rebuilding trannys. So, if anyone is wondering why there are three empty holes in the back of their tailhousing, that is why. Nobody ever put those goofy things back on. Ford quit putting those on as the years went by. Guess they knew people took them off. And others to get a better quarter mile time. HA. But, if your going concourse at MCA Shows, you better put it back on.

I've heard several reasons for having the counter weight.
From cutting down on drive shaft vibration, to balancing the weight of the tranny.

Every time we sold a Ford trans we were asked what is was for and if it was really needed.

...never put them back on either.