Ah yes, the WRX STi Fluidampr install...
The manual says to install it diametrically. Eh?
I gave it to my mechanic at the same time as the timing kit, all good but because the Fluidampr has, unlike the stock damper, a slight interference fit, plus requires the timing cover to be trimmed, he didn’t install it.
That’s because, like a few old school mechanics and machinists I know, he HATES aftermarket gear.
Oh well, I’ll diy it.
I asked John at Little Sam’s, now, he does mod and has a fully built LS something to go into his mint Holden at some stage.
It happens to have an ATI Superdamper on the crank.
He’s like yeah nah, just use the crank bolt and good quality copper anti seize to wind it on, after checking the end of the crank for burrs and using a bit of wet n dry if so. Bingo!
I needed to do the rad hoses and Ac belt, and these need to be removed to do the damper. Bingo!
Got the car on stands, drained the radiator, removed hoses, belts, put the car in 6th, used the old alt belt pinch trick on the stock damper... slipping.
Luckily my son arrived and put his foot on the brakes, and the bolt came free.
Timing cover has to be trimmed as the Fluidampr is wider at the base/centre.
Timing cover has a lip that’s protrudes too far.
Used a 10cm ruler to compare the crank mounting face to the lip, and the Fluidampr mounting face to the step on back of the damper... looks like it’s a 3mm difference, let’s trim 4.5mm.
- F3E22462-DBD6-4751-AC5B-4E6099BF3C27.jpeg (172.83 KiB) Viewed 9291 times
How nice is this market-find edge scribe?
I marked the cover lip with a white paint pen and then scribed a 4mm line in the paint, and went at it with a dremel and sanding barrel attached. Bingo!
- 4F181A0C-827E-4249-8A92-C12217B06007.jpeg (158.83 KiB) Viewed 9291 times
Dremel to the line... Tedious yet somehow satisfying...
Fluidampr went right on, used the Warren & Brown tq wrench to 130ft/lb, reversed pinch belt trick and sons foot on brakes
- 28910A55-3F5C-41F5-986E-28E8B74E936F.jpeg (103.33 KiB) Viewed 9291 times
It spins!!!
- E1463259-B327-4FEC-AEC1-E15BE2E63E6F.jpeg (103.73 KiB) Viewed 9291 times
Bleed, bleed, bleeeed and bleed again. Bled.
Buttoned it up with around 10mm manual deflection on the acc belts, bled the radiator extensively, and test drove it
Review of Fluidampr after driving: look I’m a realist, this product is for built engines, going that last step to ensure your built engine is happy and that you’ve done something positive as regards harmonics.
Is it required for my car? No, but at some point in the future, I do want to build a built engine, and at the time I bought it, for a very brief moment, I could afford it. The Fluidampr is very reusable and should outlive both the car and I.
As for driving... well the car does feel smoother, especially down low, but right through the rev range as well.
Its not exactly verifiable but given the chance to do it over, yes I’d definitely do it again