Author Topic: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?  (Read 7866 times)

Offline Got Smoke?

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79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« on: July 17, 2011, 07:32:05 pm »
Ok went out to start my K20 today and check the fluids and what not because I made a deal to sell my 99 Cummins next weekend and want my back up truck up and going "Just in case".

The harmonic balancer is now rubbing the crossmember below and cutting material off the back of it an 1/8-to-1/4 of an inch toward the front of the truck.

2 weeks ago I went out and started the truck and let it idle to operating temp and shut it off the everything was fine...the truck has not moved since? ??? >:( I checked all the balancer bolts and they aren't loose? No clue what could possibly have shifted while sitting in my driveway?:huh: Anybody ever have an experience like this?

Only think I can think of is possibly pick the engine up with a cherry picker enough to pull the motor mounts out and replace the bushings?
97 Dodge Cummins modded 12V
02 VW Golf TDI 40+ MPG
79 Chevy K20 350 4spd 5" lift 37 MT OZ's
88 Chevy V3500 / 88 GMC R3500 combo going 3+3 SRW 350/400/205

Offline chevymanrob

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2011, 08:02:47 pm »
can you see separation between the inner and outer sections? maybe you can see it from under the truck. thats about the only thing i can think of...outer ring separating from the inner and "walking" causing the interference.
ex G-body drag fan. best was 11.86 on a 93 octane SBC street car.

Offline Got Smoke?

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2011, 08:11:28 pm »
can you see separation between the inner and outer sections? maybe you can see it from under the truck. thats about the only thing i can think of...outer ring separating from the inner and "walking" causing the interference.

Didn't look at it from underneath...my cousin was helping me look at it and he crawled underneath and I didn't bother too.  I will check that out tomorrow (truck isn't at my house). Thanks for the suggestion.
97 Dodge Cummins modded 12V
02 VW Golf TDI 40+ MPG
79 Chevy K20 350 4spd 5" lift 37 MT OZ's
88 Chevy V3500 / 88 GMC R3500 combo going 3+3 SRW 350/400/205

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2011, 08:24:59 pm »
It might possibly be engine mounts? Maybe the engine is sagging enough for it to rub.
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline Got Smoke?

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2011, 09:06:44 pm »
It might possibly be engine mounts? Maybe the engine is sagging enough for it to rub.

Are the oem mounts riveted or bolted to the frame? I don't remember and as I said the truck isn't here at my house.
97 Dodge Cummins modded 12V
02 VW Golf TDI 40+ MPG
79 Chevy K20 350 4spd 5" lift 37 MT OZ's
88 Chevy V3500 / 88 GMC R3500 combo going 3+3 SRW 350/400/205

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2011, 09:34:53 pm »
You need to check the motor mounts
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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2011, 10:46:15 pm »
The engine mount brackets are bolted to the frame and to the engine crossmember and the engine moints are bolted to that. The engine bolts to the mounts with a bolt through clamshells.
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline bake74

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2011, 08:47:30 am »
     As everyone else said, I would check motor mounts first.
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline chevymanrob

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2011, 07:15:53 pm »
well did you find it?
ex G-body drag fan. best was 11.86 on a 93 octane SBC street car.

Offline Got Smoke?

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2011, 07:22:12 pm »
well did you find it?

I have purchased new motor mounts I hope to swap out this weekend if I can find the time. ::)

I will report back if it fixes it or not.

Thanks guys
97 Dodge Cummins modded 12V
02 VW Golf TDI 40+ MPG
79 Chevy K20 350 4spd 5" lift 37 MT OZ's
88 Chevy V3500 / 88 GMC R3500 combo going 3+3 SRW 350/400/205

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2011, 08:01:44 pm »
Me and my brother will be replacong his motor mounts soon too. If you want we can take pics of how we do it.
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline Got Smoke?

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2011, 08:13:03 pm »
Me and my brother will be replacong his motor mounts soon too. If you want we can take pics of how we do it.

Oh I have a pretty good idea on how we're gonna do it, just need time to do it. Going to put a chain across from one cyl head to another and pick up on it with our cherry picker. Loosen the motor mount bolts and do them one side at a time.
« Last Edit: July 21, 2011, 08:15:07 pm by Got Smoke? »
97 Dodge Cummins modded 12V
02 VW Golf TDI 40+ MPG
79 Chevy K20 350 4spd 5" lift 37 MT OZ's
88 Chevy V3500 / 88 GMC R3500 combo going 3+3 SRW 350/400/205

Offline Blazin

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2011, 10:02:35 pm »
Been there, done this. It was motor mounts.
Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs

Offline Got Smoke?

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #13 on: July 27, 2011, 08:44:09 pm »
Oh yeah it was motor mounts



Now to address a few more issues.. :D
97 Dodge Cummins modded 12V
02 VW Golf TDI 40+ MPG
79 Chevy K20 350 4spd 5" lift 37 MT OZ's
88 Chevy V3500 / 88 GMC R3500 combo going 3+3 SRW 350/400/205

Offline big bear

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Re: 79 K20 harmonic balancer suddenly rubbing xmember?
« Reply #14 on: July 27, 2011, 09:32:53 pm »
least that prob was solved