[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-Dec-02 AT 09:39 PM (EST)]The old 302 in my second '73 F-100 shakes a bit from idle on up, though it's never caused any problems. At first I thought a cylinder was missing, but a check up dismissed that idea. Carb adjustment is right on too. The clutch is a bit grabby, but the problem persists when out of gear. All mounts are solid and fine, and the flywheel is original (it doesn't make the classic thumping/clanging sound of a loose flywheel either).

Well, I got to thinking about the dampher. It feels solid, and the engine seems fair when timed to it's marks, but the rubber insert is just beginning to squeeze out a bit. I have never taken a real close look at it before today...and low and behold, when I got down and took a good look, I found a socket inside jammed to the big dampher bolt!!! No shi...'er kidding!! Well, of course, the socket has to go, but it's really on there good. I'll get it off, but I realised that this means some previous owner must have pulled the dampher. So to sum this up, what do I look for to tell if this is the correct dampher?? Casting numbers? Can't see any. The engine is a '71 302. Thanks if you can help!

 

Maybe he tried to get it off but did not suceed. It will have a part number on it. Ford should be able to tell you it's application. Getting the bolt out may be a challenge. Get the socket off first. If the hex on the bolt is really bad, I would weld a flat washer to the bolt head. Then weld a large nut to the washer.

 

Thanks for the answer Mike. I'll try to get that socket off this weekend. As I understand it, the 302 only used two dampers; a 28 ounce offset for the early 302's, and a 50 ounce ofset for later ones. Seems the change took place some time around '82 or '84.

Now, unless the present damper is twisted out or otherwise shot, the only mistake I can figure is that someone put a 50 ounce damper on it. But it seems to me that it would shake a lot worse then it does if that was the case. I doubt the socket itself is causing the problem, since it is inline with the crank, but who knows? I'll let you know what I find when I get the socket off. By the way, where are the part numbers? I can't see anything but the timing marks. Probably on the back I guess. Polkat

 

I forget exactly where the number is but you will see it when you get it off. I have had fun with these, 3 bolt vs 4 bolt. One has the timing marks for a drivers side water pump outlet, one for the passengers side. You can get them rebuilt by a place called the Dampener Dudes.

 

I know it sounds like a major difference in balance, but it doesn't really cause too much of a vibration. One of my friends had an early flywheel on a later 302, and it just had a shudder at certain rpm's.

Jared