Engine hesitating on acceleration

[97Bird]

You're starting to sound like a friend of mine. He know's what the problem is and what he has to do to fix it but he keeps trying to find other ways that are easier to cure the problem. Fix the head gasket problem and then go from there! FYI, a bad harmonic balancer will cause a vibration but I've never heard of one causing a hesitation! Now get busy ripping those heads off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

[97Bird]

Originally Posted by 97Bird

FYI, a bad harmonic balancer will cause a vibration but I've never heard of one causing a hesitation!

After thinking some more- ouch, back in the old days before computers and when you could actually time the engine by turning the distributor, if the outer piece of the harmonic balancer twisted, the timing mark would be in the wrong position in relation to TDC. I'm not familiar with how the 3.8 crank position is determined but it might be a possibility that your timing is also off. Someone with experience with the 3.8 should be able to tell you.

[Mike75]

Originally Posted by 97Bird

You're starting to sound like a friend of mine. He know's what the problem is and what he has to do to fix it but he keeps trying to find other ways that are easier to cure the problem. Fix the head gasket problem and then go from there! FYI, a bad harmonic balancer will cause a vibration but I've never heard of one causing a hesitation! Now get busy ripping those heads off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

Heh, I know what you're talking about man - I know what it must sound like. It's just that I don't have the 1200 bucks to shell out for something like that at the moment. I HAVE to keep putting bandaids on it.

As for the "hesitation", it's actually more of a jolting. I was thinking transmission at first, but the car shifts perfectly (very smooth), and it happens in all gears - but only when it's under a load (accelerating). It seems to be getting worse. I wouldn't exactly say it's vibration, but more of a solid jolting or jerking. I wish that I could convey the problem better. And once again, I know that I need to do something about the head gaskets. I'm planning on getting a crate engine within the next few months. I found a place near my new job that will install a crate engine for 3K for everything (motor, install, and 1 year warranty). I'm making good money now, but am still paying for the move out here. In the meantime, I need to have my car, and it doesn't seem like it's going to last much longer with this condition. So Iknow how it sounds, but it's not the case. I appreciate your humoring me in the meantime, tho. :P

So does this sound like it might be the harmonic balance now? Hopefully?

[97Bird]

I doubt it. Have you checked your oil lately to see if water is getting into it? Does the dipstick look milky white? Check your plugs to be sure they aren't fouled. The ones in the cylinders with the bad head gasket will probably look pretty bad. If they do, replace them and see if that helps at all. If the temp isn't going below freezing I would flush out all the antifreeze and use just water. This might buy you a LITTLE more time with that engine. Good luck cause you're gonna need it!