3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Technical advice Q&A
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politeperson
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#1 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by politeperson » Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:32 pm

The 3.8l engine damper is like a dinner plate-almost the diameter of a 45 single.

The 4.2l damper has a much smaller diameter.

Anyone know if a 4.2l crank damper will fit a 3.8 engine? This is so I can attach a normal size trigger wheel.

Or will this mess up the harmonics?

James
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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mtnjag
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#2 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by mtnjag » Mon Jan 29, 2024 5:29 pm

I believe a later XJ6 damper will fit. Later design.
Layne
Car #876005, 62 OTS

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abowie
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#3 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by abowie » Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:40 pm

It'll fit OK. Can't answer the question about harmonics.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
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lowact
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#4 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by lowact » Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:09 am

The older it is, the harder and more brittle the rubber will have become, the less effective it will be …
Regards,
ColinL
'72 OTS manual V12

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#5 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by christopher storey » Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:16 pm

I would be very wary of substituting the later large mass damper for the earlier dinner plate type one. You do not want a fractured crankshaft

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#6 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by mtnjag » Tue Jan 30, 2024 6:29 pm

I believe it to be a common substitute. Look at all the available High Performance balancers for these engines. None of them have a design like the early ones. Mass seems to be less or same with smaller diameter. Been running one for 25 years on my 3.8 installed by the Jag performance shop that built my engine.
Layne
Car #876005, 62 OTS

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#7 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by politeperson » Wed Jan 31, 2024 10:39 am

Thanks for the input.
I think I will try a 4.2 balancer and see what happens.
The rest of the rotating assembly is off to be balanced next week anyway, so I will add this into the mix.
It is amazing what a difference having it all balanced prior to assembly makes to the smoothness of it all.
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
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#8 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by rfs1957 » Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:02 pm

It’s possible to neatly shrink-fit a much bigger toothed wheel onto the back of the oft-supplied (by UK retailers) ProRace damper, which is actually Australian.

If you search in the Megajolt thread for rfs1957 you should find all the details from when I did it, I would send you the link but am fat-fingers-small-screen in an airport lounge so ………… not tonight.

Much, much neater and more elegant than fitting one on the crank nose.
Rory
3.8 OTS S1 Opalescent Silver Grey - built May 28th 1962

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#9 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by politeperson » Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:41 pm

Thankyou Rory, I will have a look.
Its true, but Enzo never said it
Too many E types
XK120 SUs

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#10 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by rfs1957 » Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:58 pm

Details are on Post #425 of the Megajolt thread.
Rory
3.8 OTS S1 Opalescent Silver Grey - built May 28th 1962

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#11 Re: 3.8 Engine Damper Alternatives

Post by abowie » Fri Feb 02, 2024 11:42 pm

rfs1957 wrote:
Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:58 pm
Details are on Post #425 of the Megajolt thread.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=437&hilit=megajolt& ... 20#p108615
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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