Bad Harmonic Balancer?

[2.8RS]

There is a rattling and slight grinding noise comming from the motor at around 2200 rpm and only at the rpm. Oil pressure is good and the motor still runs strong at 145,000 miles. Car is a 89 Camaro with a 2.8. If I need a new one I would like to get a new one but not one that runs $350 from Summit or the parts store.

[Superdave]

just look at it, if the rubber is flying out then it's bad..


does it happen under load or just when revving? my old 2.8 did the same exact thing, ended up being a rod bearing.

[2.8RS]

It happens under load or just revving.

[2.8RS]

Shot a vid of the noise:

http://www.axcessmypics.com/photos/photo05/3f/c2/8466c5d81017.3g2

[pocket-rocket]

That doesn't sound like a rod or a balancer to me. Take your acc. belt off and see if the noise is still there. It sounds a lot like an idler pulley to me. If the noise is gone, spin all of your accessories by hand to see which one doesn't feel smooth.

[2.8RS]

Forgot to add that. I did let the motor run for a few seconds with the belt off and the noise is still there. All of the accessories feel fine. The idler was replaced by the previous owner when I got the car about 2 years ago. PS pump is about a year old or so also.

[SuzukiGhostRider]

Can't get the vid to work for me. Question. Are you sure this noise only occurs at exactly 2200 RPM's? Seems rather odd to me. I've turned a few bearings in my day and they will generally knock at all RPM, from idle up. They just get progressively more prominent as the RPM's rise. Have you only heard it inside the car? Or have you crawled under the car while running or used a scope on it? If you really only have this noise at a specific RPM, I'm guessing you just have something loose or worn externally on the engine, such as a pulley, or exhaust component. GL.

[2.8RS]

Me and a friend have trued to pinpoint where it is comming from, deffinately from the engine. Its only noticeably at 2200RPM and its random, not in any sort of set of rhythm or pattern like a rod knock is. It doesn't occur at any other RPM really. You can hear it very slightly at idle. I'm going to check everything out this weekend when the car is up on jackstands getting new springs. It sounds like something is loose.

[2.8RS]

I went under the car and the sound is deffinately comming from the Harmonic balencer more than likely. I guess that I will be swapping it out next weekend. Anyone have any tips or anything else that I may want to change out? I'll be doing the timing chain at the end of the summer.

[91DOHC284]

ya, i have a tip that will save you from all problems with that motor... swap in a 350

[2.8RS]

ya, i have a tip that will save you from all problems with that motor... swap in a 350

I hear enough of that from everyone, NO V8 swap.

[Superdave]

I hear enough of that from everyone, NO V8 swap.

I had more problems with my 355/TH400 Fbody then i ever had with my V6..

[91DOHC284]

not some injectid peice of ass V8, im talking carborators and big cams lol. rip out all the freeking wire's man and make it a real muscle car

[2.8RS]

Threw on the other harmonic balancer I have and the rattling is still there. So I guess that the flywheel could be the problem?

[IsaacHayes]

could be loose.