Going LA timing cover on 5.9 magnum.Can I use the older 2 piece balancer (pulley unbolts from damper) in place of the one piece damper w/serpentine pulley?Professional products makes a balancer that comes bolt-on weights, but says '93-97 years. Motor is 2001, does it still work? Professional Products 80012: Powerforce Harmonic Damper Small Block Chrysler/Mopar 318/340/360 | JEGS Yes, I used the search bar and didn't find anything... thanks in advance
I'm learning what I don't know... lol. My van's bronze gear and now this damper question. I'll soon be a guru on magnum swaps and roller billet cam swaps... Over 30 years of LA's and flat tappets and just using magnums as stock daily's, it's time to expand my horizon.
Yes, you can definitely replace the one-piece serpentine 5.9 Magnum balancer/pulley combo with the 5.9 Magnum balancer that was two-piece, then run whatever pulley you want. The aftermarket balancers with changeable weights will work on any year Magnum engine. I am guessing they screwed up the years because it's unclear what year or model or trim line has the two-piece setup. If they sold it to fit later years with a one-piece, everyone would complain that is does not have a pulley. I have two 1999 model Ram trucks with 5.9 Magnum engines. One has a two-piece setup and the other has a one-piece.
If you do get the aftermarket balancer, the weight descriptions are screwed up too. You just need reason out which weight to use. If I remember correctly: Neutral balance for anything including Magnum 5.2 engines use no weight. The external balance 340 uses the lightest weight. The Magnum 5.9 uses the middle weight. The LA 360 uses the heaviest weight.
We used a factory 2 piece off eBay. Funny thing, it had a drivers side timing mark, like you would expect. And the passenger side one for our 273 timing pointer too!!
I run a professional products 90012 balancer on 2 of my 5.9 magnums. I have zero complaints thus far, really helped smooth it out. Yes you can use the 2pc stock balancer in place of the 1pc stock balancer, all 5.9 magnums are balanced the same.
just to stay on the cheap, I'll see if I can't locate a 2-piece. If not, I'll probably go with the professional product 80012
I just noticed BluePrint engines is now offering a version of the universal fit balancer, with interchangeable weights. New BluePrint Engines Mopar Small Block Harmonic Balancer | 273 | 318 | 340 | 360 | 408 |