A friend has this small block damper in a box of miscellaneous parts. The front of the damper appeared to be okay until I flipped it over and discovered a section missing.

Is this damper now a paperweight?

More like a door stopper.

Not worth fixing.

Had a friend years ago that actually had the end of the crank snap off right at the front counterweight

Scrap it

I'd scrap it.

Are you feeling lucky
AKA aside it might work and it might fail , I wouldn't take a chance

Thank you for the confirmations.

Same thing with snap the crank, but it was driving a 6-71 blower.

That small amount of missing material may not effect balance much, but the snout seems to have excessive oil seal wear grooves.
Scrap it & fine another, not that rare of item.

junk