Best 4 bolt balancer for high performance ?
 

Kinda like the other thread but for a high effort engine.
I have always been a BHJ but and they are not cheap, 535 $
Race guys say the ATI is the best and its only 400$
But 3 bolt and I do not really want to deal with it.

The New Pro Race unit looks nice and are only 335$ But are they press fit like I want ?
There are more performance oriented 4 bolt balancers than I thought once you start looking
.
I could always go with the BHJ.https://www.summitracing.com/search/...balancer%20455
The engine I am talking about would be a 540 with a big set of heads, pump gas.
7500 max RPM deal.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Pro-Race/439/64275/10002/-1

I’m using this one. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pio-872031

Not sure about 7500 rpm though.

Pro-Race is not press fit. I'd rate it as the best four bolt damper behind BHJ. You have a serious effort build that you will race a lot... I'd bight the bullet and spring for the BHJ if you need the factory bolt pattern.

There was one balancer ProForm or Professional Products even SFI rated that come apart or rust really badly. I had one on my 78 that rusted like heck.

That is my biggest complaint with BHJ and Pro-Race. You'd certainly think in this day and age they could do something to at least have their dampers somewhat rust resistant.

Dragncar...If you talk to Darrin at Nitemare I think you'll realize the balancer you want is the BHJ.

I put a light coat of paint on my BHJ balancer before I had my rotating assembly balanced to prevent rust formation and there is no rust after 10 years. I also painted my reluctor wheel in my MSD distributor and it hasn't rusted/oxidized yet.

What about Innovators?

Isn't Innovators 4 bolt? Those are really good balancers

I already have one from him on my 461. I have bought 2 of them.
Planning out the next build that I already have most of the parts for.
Its just that you do not seem to see them on 535s pushing 800-900 HP.
There have to be some out there. Just seems like the vast majority run the ATI. The question is, is there a solid reason for that ? Does it matter ?
And I might do that if the cost and hassle for 3 bolt pulley's is not too bad.
Or I can give Darrin another call, cool dude IMO.

I had ATI make me 3 balancers some years ago for supercharged applications.

They put a Pontiac 4 bolt cover (for Pontiac) on the parts as well as 10 rib belt drive outer covers. All it takes is money.

ATI can do Press-Fit too.

Engineers do stuff for reasons

TV

Agree...Darrin is a good guy to talk to and very knowledgeable.

I used yellow paint in the timing grooves then a clear coat on my BHJ

I have an Innovators West, it's a 4 bolt pattern balancer and has the magnets for the crank trigger built into it. It's a very nice piece.

Thanks Tom. I will at least call ATI and see what a upgrade to 4 bolt and press fit cost. The ATI is 395$ and the BHJ is 535 $ so if its 140$ or less for the work its a option.
ATI makes a Pontiac balancer # 917160 (395$) and a #917161 (370$) designed for Buick/Olds but with a Pontiac V8. Wonder what the difference is ? Diameter maybe ?

I have been looking at them and have most of the parts for a MSD crank trigger.
Is it press fit hopefully ?

Do you know of any aftermarket block serious effort builds running a BHJ ?
I would have no problem running one if other guys are having success with them.

Some in the 800-900 HP level NA. I'm not a harmonic damper
expert. In fact most of the time I refer to them as a balancer. At one point 100% of the cars running at Daytona used an ATI damper. That's a heckuva an endorsement. I've talked with several "experts" in the field that consider the BHJ every bit as good as an ATI damper. I like to keep things simple. If it's a high end build we use an ATI unless the guy needs a four bolt arrangement for some reason. The we use a clear coated BHJ. I believe Innovators West makes a damper that would work equally as well.

On a side note, JMO but one thing that probably kept a few of their dampers out of the race at Daytona was an issue they had with the outer ring slipping on the hub and the fact it took them a while to realize there was a problem. We went through several that spun the outer ring along with many others. BHJ was unhelpful in finding a solution to the problem. A lot of finger pointing was done, including them saying the spinning was due to excessive heat caused by spraying engines on the Dyno. Eventually the problem was corrected but I'm sure several folks that were left with a sour taste in their mouth. I know people that have not used a BHJ damper since.

Thanks Paul, Monday I will call both ATI and Innovators West and see if I can get a .001 press fit and go from there.

I looking around at all this stuff I found a Jegs brand balancer/installer kit for 67 $. I had to pay 285$ for the Moroso kit.
I think you are better off with a true press fit and the price of that Moroso kit has probably has kept a lot of people with slip fit balancers.
67$ is a great deal. I am sure its made overseas but it gets the dampener on and off just the same.

https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/81395/10002/-1

Yes, it's a press fit. Not cheap though. I got mine from a friend in a swap plus cash for a Romac, I wanted it for the magnets and my buddy didn't need it for his build.