Originally Posted by Bradshawtech

Not sure how the damper mark could not be spot on as it is keyed to the crank sprocket for the TB.

I went to a local junk yard to reference the location of the window on the flexplate as I used the damper mark as a baseline. My engine is coupled to an automatic trans and the junkyard engine was from a standard transmission car. I put the damper mark on my engine and the junkyard engine at the same mark on the TB cover and that is where I noticed the different locations of the window on the flywheel. I made an assumption that the standard trans location of the CPS is different since when I returned to my engine I could not start all the flexplate bolts if I tried to mount it placing the window in the same location as the junkyard engine. I rotated my flexplate one more position anticlockwise and my bolts lined up perfectly. In this mounted position my window was just at the CPS location so I trusted this to be correct. When I attempted to start the engine for the first time I was nervous as could be but it fired up immediately and has run smooth ever since.

I must say that I am quite sure that my CPS is mounted in the bellhousing of the transmission and not on the engine itself. I trust your knowledge a lot but I wonder where the difference is in our experiences.

As far as the window being located just before it passes the CPS when the crank mark is lined up on the TB cover on my engine I am making another assumption that the crank mark is marking TDC #1 from my experience of old school domestic engines. I am well aware that is not always safe as the Germans have different ideas on many things.

Originally Posted by SloopJohnB@mac.com

Harmonic balances are essentially two metal masses bonded together with an elastomer. The bond can fail and the masses rotate relative to each other and therefore te timing mark moves to a wrong place. I've seen timing marks off by 50-90 degrees on GM dampers. It can be really frustrating if you don't catch it.

Originally Posted by Airbag

Porsche has had nightmares with the DMF in the past.. they moved away from it quickly.

Originally Posted by Bradshawtech

I guess I didn't look close enough but I thought the damper was a solid piece since I didn't see any rubber isolation.

Originally Posted by jcman

Can't miss it in this picture.

Originally Posted by SloopJohnB@mac.com

Pretty good thickness too. About twice GM.

Originally Posted by SloopJohnB@mac.com

Although there's not an elastomer bonding interface, it looks too complicated for words!
BMW uses a DMF as well, but still.

Originally Posted by Airbag

holy crap .. that thing looks like its designed to go to Mars..