Group Buy: ATI Damper for M54

Originally Posted by mspiegle

I believe one of the threads made a reference to a HP limit for this unit at around 500hp. Is this something to be worried about if you want to make more power than that?

This is how ATI was sizing E46 dampers as of a few months ago:

Ricky said a 5.5" damper was good for up to about 500-550 hp.
He said a 6 7/8" one like Adam's would be good for 1000+hp.
He and another sales rep, Chris, were very focussed on max hp determining the damper size.*

RPMwise they had three types of tuned rubber they'd mix and match for the 'inertia ring' depending on the redline and the typical RPM range the damper would experience.

*not saying it's the best way - it's just the approach I saw in action

Bump!

1. aggieE46
2. bluejeansonfire
3. trippinbimmer
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10.

Ahh... If I can get my bonus in time this might be my next investment.

You can count me in (please get the price to drop even more). I have a 5-rib A/C belt btw.



Also, will I be able to provide a list of my mods for a very specific damper or is ATI providing us a one size fits all solution based on just peak HP?

Does anyone have easy access to an M54B30 crank?
I need a measurement for the design of an installation tool:
"What is the measurement from the end of your crank snout to where the threads start in the crank?"

it's 50.50mm - thanks to a nameless source

Originally Posted by gte869h

Also, will I be able to provide a list of my mods for a very specific damper or is ATI providing us a one size fits all solution based on just peak HP?

The damper does a pretty specific thing - it snuffs out resonances at the natural frequencies of forged steel in order to avoid crazy harmonic crank twisting torsion. Based on my research ATI is the top dog in this field - they're the official NASCAR damper supplier and they have lots of great reviews on other car sites - so I'm confident in their approach even though it sounds kind of simple. And it's only a one size fits all solution because our cars generally fall below the thresholds that, in their experience, would necessitate a change in design; few, if any of us, plan on exceeding 550hp and 7500 rpms. Except bluejeansonfire

Originally Posted by McSpeed

The damper does a pretty specific thing - it snuffs out resonances at the natural frequencies of forged steel in order to avoid crazy harmonic crank twisting torsion. Based on my research ATI is the top dog in this field - they're the official NASCAR damper supplier and they have lots of great reviews on other car sites - so I'm confident in their approach even though it sounds kind of simple. And it's only a one size fits all solution because our cars generally fall below the thresholds that, in their experience, would necessitate a change in design; few, if any of us, plan on exceeding 550hp and 7500 rpms. Except bluejeansonfire

Thanks for the info.....

I ask b/c I thought things like rpm redline (7000 for me), standard N/A mods, and Light-weight Flywheel (UUC Stage 2) affect how the damper should be tuned. I expect the ATI solution takes these thing into account. Based on the info I've found, a flywheel change significantly alters crankshaft harmonics.


Got another few questions;

It was mentioned you could rebuild this thing for $75 with new o-rings so in effect the damper is good forever. Does the damper need to be removed from the crankshaft in order to be rebuilt? If so, based on how tight the fit is can this be done with a large gear puller, or is a special tool also necessary for removal? Is the damper housing made out of steel or aluminum?

Thanks

Brady, any updates? Can we still keep the same deal if only 5 people buy?

Not sure, man. He told me 10.

1. aggieE46
2. bluejeansonfire
3. trippinbimmer
4. gte869h
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10.

Any word on an install tool being provided by ATI? Not all of us are as skilled as Adam at being MacGyver.

Originally Posted by HighBoostin330

Any word on an install tool being provided by ATI? Not all of us are as skilled as Adam at being MacGyver.

lol I should have an update sometime soon

Originally Posted by gte869h

It was mentioned you could rebuild this thing for $75 with new o-rings so in effect the damper is good forever. Does the damper need to be removed from the crankshaft in order to be rebuilt? If so, based on how tight the fit is can this be done with a large gear puller, or is a special tool also necessary for removal? Is the damper housing made out of steel or aluminum?

• I'm pretty sure it needs to be pulled to be rebuilt
• from what I hear the dampers are pressed REALLY tight
• ATI and Moroso and probably others make damper install/removal tool sets that'll work once we get a thread adapter: http://www.atiracing.com/products/da...arts/index.htm
• the inner hub is steel but the rest of it is aluminum

Hey guys, I just wanted the let you all know that install tool isn't that hard to make. I wrote all the part numbers on my other post and all you need technically is welder, or a buddy with a welder. I have write-ups on the other tooling you will also need and how I made it.
If you guys are serious I know some guys that do professional fabrication and have a much higher quality.

Sorry, guys, I'm going to have to bow out on this one. Too much going on...

Can anyone recommend a good place to rent a 350+ ft-lb torque wrench? The crank bolt is a 300 ft-lb deal.
This looks promising but I haven't talked to them yet: http://www.jmtest.com/pages/productdetail.asp?ID=866

Originally Posted by HighBoostin330

Any word on an install tool being provided by ATI? Not all of us are as skilled as Adam at being MacGyver.

ATI is finally making a thread adapter for their install/puller tool out of the crank bolt I sent them. Will update as I know more.

Originally Posted by aggieE46

Sorry, guys, I'm going to have to bow out on this one. Too much going on...

Bummer man!

it's official - ATI made me a thread adapter for their tool set
The damper should be installed within a couple weeks.

Awesome!!!

I may still be able to pull this off. I don't think my car is going anywhere soon

Originally Posted by McSpeed

it's official - ATI made me a thread adapter for their tool set
The damper should be installed within a couple weeks.

is this included with the GB?

Excellent news. I'll email my contact tomorrow about getting the adapter included.

Ricky said the adapter would not be included. Man, they're not helping out much with this group buy. No shipping, no adapter... Bummer.