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Hello, I am in search of a vibration damper or harmonic balancer for a 1948 Packard 327 cubic inch five main bearing engine.
The reason I need one is because the one I have either never had timing marks on it or they are too faded to see.
If anyone has one that I could purchase it would be greatly appreciated!

Check
Gerry.
Psw parts.
See the directory..

Your engine may have the timing marks on the flywheel. Look for a small access cover or opening in the bell housing right under the starter mount.

(See shop manual for your car in Literature Archive on this site)

Quote:
I believe the flywheel timing marks stopped being used by the late 30's and 48 timing marks are definitely on the vibration damper. Impressions are not very deep so there is every chance the damper was painted over and paint filled the fine stamping. You might be able to find them by using some paint stripper to remove the paint from around the flat circumference but that is not a given.

Here are a couple of illustrations showing different dampers and marking patterns.

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Ok I have contacted Gerry and am awaiting a response. In the meantime I think I will try looking for the timing marks again (the one I have has surface rust on it)

If on the damper, they were stamped deeply so would not fade. My 1940 had them on the flywheel but as far as I know, by postwar they were on the damper so some cleaning is in order.

Hit the area with a wire brush and then rub it with some white chalk

Ah-ha! If I look very close I can make out some very faint tick marks around it. In the morning I will try to use a wire brush and chalk to see if I can make out where the markings start/what they mean.

Don't get too aggressive. Mine ('49) were not very visible even after cleaning, but as Kev sez highlight the marks but I use a white paint stick, smear on, then wipe to leave in the marks or just mark the desired degree with something like white paint or a metallic sharpie/welders pencil. Some color the timing light will reflect well/show up.
If you take it off, you can scribe again with a straight edge and scriber.
They should publish the degrees from the keyway or some other measure to re-calibrate but I don't think anyone figured they last this long. The rebuilders that change the flex coupling might have info since they have to take apart to repair and get the ring back right or it self indexes. You can send them out, don't have to replace.
If you're adept, you can set engine to TDC compression and mark that, then index based on diameter/degrees.

After receiving images from Gerry PSW I’m not sure I
Mine is even original as it looks much thicker than the ones they were showing me.
Can anyone confirm if this is what the original ones looked like?

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