Mud bees/wasps. They build some really strong nests that can break up into chunks that stay together. They make their tubes from mud, saliva, and sugar - they can be pretty strong. I’d definitely check.

I ended up flushing pick up hoses and turns out stbd side was about 50 % clogged however I believe that was from trip out last fall and over nighted in a mucky area of the lake. Hope to hit the water today if all goes well. 20 plus beers last night and hot and sticky working in the bilge just isn’t a good combo. Lol

Yup. Bringing up an old thread. Good reason too.

My VP damper/pulley (one piece) is rusted to hell. VP doesn't have an ETA when the part will be available again. I have an 8.1L with crank sea water pump for closed cooling via HE.

Questions:

1- Do the 8.1 dampers come with or with out the pulley?
2- Do the dampers already have threads or do they need to be threaded to hold the crank pump?

If I'm thinking of this correctly, I can pick up a new standard damper and pulley from AC Delco and add the the spacer and bushings.

This is what I have below. All one piece. The damper and pulley do not separate. This thing was eating belts. Thanks for the help.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...53cee84d9.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...15a874d63.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...af2e6f87e.jpeg

Looking at RockAuto for harmonic balancer for 8.1, the balancer and pulley is one piece as well with no holes to bolt the crank pump to.

Ive struck out with all the local auto part stores:

NAPA
AutoZone
Advanced Auto
O'Rielys

None have a harmonic balancer that I can bolt on a sea water pump to the crank. None had the 3 holes to bolt on the sea water pump.

Now looking for used or racing type dampers. Anyone have any suggestions?

Find out what the balance the 8.1 uses fornthe balancer in oz. Find one the same balance for a BBC. Mount a flush ribbed pulley and the water pump.

If you can't find the correct balance...get tje closest one and have an engine machine shop add the correct balance to the balancer.

Lots of room for solutions with the $5xx + cost of a new one from Volvo.

Or...get one from an 8.1 auto engine...and have a machine shop drill.and tap the holes. Easy day.

There doesn’t seem to be a market for Gen 7 BBC. All the BBC dampers are for the older versions especially early versions. That in itself has been difficult. Unless ANY BBC dampers will fit the GEN 7 crank.

I would reach out to Raylar. They are the 8.1 experts. They might have, or know a replacement.

The 8.1l Gen VI cranks use the same snout diamter as ll other BBCs.

1.5995-1.6005" tolerance

Balancers are 1.598-1.599"

some aftermarket auto 8.1l balancers spec out the bore at 40.6mm. (1.598")

Nothing special about the 8.1l balancer except likely the external balance offset for the larger crank swing 4.370", and they incorporated the pulley into the casting.

BBC balancers are sold based on their offset balance in ounces.

Lots of pulley manufacturers to sort out your needs. Bolt on your water pump.

Good info!!! Than you. This damper I took off had no keyway. Will putting a damper that has a keyway cutout affect anything?

Volvo Penta doesn’t publish any info on the balance weight. Any suggestions?