Harmonic Balancer

[Black and Blue]

Anybody have any experience with the Innovators West balancer on their stroker?

[Randy Bobandi]

Where do you see an Innovators West damper for the Jeep/AMC straight 6?

[Black and Blue]

I don't. I was watching an interview with an AMC engineer on the race 6 cyl race program. He said that was the best one made and the only one to use. I talked to Innovators West today and they said they only made one for the AMC v-8. If they were using one, it was modified to fit. Just thought someone here had used one and knew how to modify it.
What performance balancer does everyone use?

[Randy Bobandi]

There are only 3 options that I know of...

1 - Make your own
2 - Give Newcomer $900 for an ATI Super Damper that comes with a hub that he had machined for the Jeep crank snout. Yup, $900.
3- Go through ATI directly for a custom hub. You have to fill out a sheet with all of the dimensions. This will probably total up to $900 as well.

[Cheromaniac]

Is there any reason not to use the OEM 4.0L harmonic balancer? It's worked fine on just about every stroker build that I know of.

[Black and Blue]

I plan on running in the 6-7000 rpm range leaving at 4500-5000 rpm.
4-speed drag race only.

[Randy Bobandi]

Is there any reason not to use the OEM 4.0L harmonic balancer? It's worked fine on just about every stroker build that I know of.

I plan on running in the 6-7000 rpm range leaving at 4500-5000 rpm.
4-speed drag race only.

Hell yes Brother. Give me a minute, I'm going to come up with a document like a petition to have folks sign off if they want a sweet damper.

For ATI, 10 is the minimum quantity for all custom orders and the lead time is 6 months.

Chris at Innovators West is saying he can do it but he needs like a petition from us Jeep guys stating that we would purchase one or at least be interested in purchasing one.

The Jeep damper is almost Identical to the Ford 4.6L damper. The only difference is the Ford snout OD is 1.250" the Jeep is 1.125". Also the seal OD is a little different, the Ford is 1.750" the Jeep is 1.780".

[Randy Bobandi]

I'm shipping a stock damper out to Innovators West. They're going to verify the dimensions v the Ford 4.6L damper to see if this is as simple as a 1.125" bore version of the Mod Motor damper.

So a petition may not be necessary.

[Black and Blue]

I'm also talking to Chris Rose! He knows what I'm doing. Let's hope he puts the connection together and sees the need.

[Randy Bobandi]

id.JPG

The Innovators West crank damper is nearing production. This is the current status from our friend Chris...

"The only way to do a damper for this engine would be by using our existing Mod Motor case and guts and then making a customer serpentine cover and a custom hub. To design and manufacture that design of damper you would be looking at $1000 for the initial damper (includes the R&D and tooling costs). The timeframe to complete the initial damper would be 10-12 weeks. If there were multiple people interested in a damper I can get a price on subsequent dampers once I had an idea on the quantity of dampers desired."

Well.....How many of you are in on this? I'll be paying the $1000 for the initial damper. The more folks that reach out, the lower the cost will be for everyone. The Mod motor dampers sell for between $500-$600, sure beats paying Newcomer $900 for an ATI unit.

I'm not sure what would be the best way to get everyone's name on a list who is interested. Maybe just email Chris and we'll let him put the list together.

[email protected]
Chris Rose - Sales/Marketing Manager
Waddle's Manufacturing \ Innovators West \ IWR, LLC.
2816 Centennial Rd, Salina, KS 67401
785-825-6166

[Garmobozia1260]

This is directly from Mopar performance parts Manual for Jeep Engines 3rd Edition, Part Number P5007161


One of the characteristics of a rubber damper is that it has
to be tuned to a selected band of operation. This means
that, for any given engine package, the damper is tuned to
a specific rpm. The viscous damper does a better job at a
wide range of frequencies (rpms). This again is a big
advantage for the racer who races under many different
conditions, rpms, track lengths, etc.

The only real “problem” with rubber dampers is that the
rubber can deteriorate. This can manifest itself in the outer
ring slipping. This causes the timing mark to move. At this
point the damper should be replaced

In summary, we recommend that a steel ring (SFI
approved) vibration damper be used for general high
performance (dual purpose) vehicles, and a viscous/fluid
vibration damper be used for race-only drag, oval track, or
endurance vehicles.

[Randy Bobandi]

This is directly from Mopar performance parts Manual for Jeep Engines 3rd Edition, Part Number P5007161

Yet they never produced an appropriate damper for the straight 6 engine.

Great find.


We need as many people as we can get to send Chris an Email simply stating that they are interested in the Jeep Damper. The more people that reach out, the lower the sale price will be.

We don't need any more wildly overpriced Newcomer parts. Like $150 valve cover torque limiters (he calls them perimeter grommet billet retainers). The torque limiters and grommets are not even required on Jeep valve covers, the gasket does all of the sealing. But you can spend $150 on them, holy cow. How about $525 for a valve cover spacer?

he.JPG

[Enzosrock]

I'll take at least one. Any updates?