harmonic balancer

[Jurek]

My 86 6.2 diesel van pass 300k miles. I would like to put new harmonic balancer. I prefer OEM or another good quality. Any suggestions where to look for ?. Thanks ! George

[More Power]

Wherever you get a replacement, always ask that it be an OEM damper. I've heard several times of failed import knockoffs that it's not worth risking your engine.

Try: www.peninsularengine.com (http://www.peninsularengine.com) for a genuine replacement if you can't get one from your local GM dealer.

[Jurek]

Is damper from Gmpartsdirect. OEM . George

[More Power]

Is damper from Gmpartsdirect. OEM . George

Till fairly recently (a few years) we didn't need to ask the question (is it a GM part?), but we need to ask that question now. One by one all of the national chain auto parts vendors began carrying more and more "made in China" parts, till it's more likely now than not that it is made in China - no matter the part.

Unless there's a statement somewhere on the GMPartsDirect web site that they only carry OEM parts, you've got to ask them the question.

It's unfortunate that GM has moved some of its manufacturing to China. Whether these 6.2/6.5 dampers are among those parts, I don't know. I would hope that GM demands that any of those parts meet the OEM specs - all OEM specs.

I was told by a crankshaft manufacturing company owner last year that, for a time, GM had some of their performance gas engine crankshafts made in China - till the failure rate greatly exceeded specs. As a result, performance crankshaft manufacturing was moved back to North America. Speaks volumes....

[DmaxMaverick]

Is damper from Gmpartsdirect. OEM . George
"OEM", it seems, doesn't mean what it used to. As Jim said, it doesn't necessarily mean better. As far as the balancer goes, order it from GMPD by the part number, and you should get whatever is considered "OEM" today. Rock Auto lists the same part, by number and brand, for $30 more than GMPD. Keep your hat on when you see GMPD's S/H charges.

AC Delco and GM # 14022671