Engine Balancing???

[turboshad]

Has anyone ever had there engine balanced? Is it worth the money? Does it run smoother or more responsively than a non-balanced engine. My engine is being sent to the machine shop soon and this is one of my options so I was wondering if it was worth it on our engines or not. I've heard that it wasn't but I would like some opinions from people who have sone it or have experience here.
Thanks for your help

DJ

[turboshad]

Has no one ever balanced there engine? Is no respnose the answer that it is pointless to do so? I'm sure some one in td land has some expertise.

[GLHS#116]

I know Gary says on his site that ballancing one of our engines is pointless. I'd have thought he should know. I can't personally see why it would be pointless as it can only lead to less stress on the bearings which can only lead to longer life and less frictional losses and vibration. Maybe a clue comes from another annecdote I seem to recall. I'm pretty sure someone said that they had their engine ballanced and it was within some very close tollerence already.

Does anyone really know? I mean, how could ballancing an engine not help?

[Glhs60]

Are you the DJ I think you are? What shop is offering to balance your engine? In line 4 and 6 cyl engines can have individual components such as pistons etc. weight balanced. [static]
Thanks
Randy

[turboshad]

Randy

Bel Tech Engines gave me the offer for about $150. But I don't know if I can afford all their other prices with my measly student budget. They also couldn't track down a torque plate for me. Pro Stock also offerd it but I didn't get it on my quote cause I didn't know if it would be worth it or not so I don't know how much they would charge. They also offered a torque plate hone but when Bel Tech phoned them about a torque plate they said they didn't have one I think I am stil going to get my work done there though unless you had any other suggestions. I asked you this same question in another thread before I read this one so you can aswere which ever one you want. Thanks

DJ

[turboshad]

Might I also note that even though Bel Tech was a little more expensive they do extremely good quality work and will settle for nothing less. Hense the marginally higher prices. I didn't mean to say they were just down right expensive and give any bad thoughts about their buisness.

DJ

[glhsken]

To answer your question... very few of us balance them. There are much better places to spend the money.

My block is several different motors all pieced together. Done in my basement with Plastiguage.

[glhs636]

I must be too anal or something
I balanced every motor I've ever built
spinning 6,000 a few ounces equals pounds and I don't wan to take that chance with my money.

Then again I'm running the forged crank and water intercooler which alot of people said is a waste of time. To each their own, I guess the factory isn't all that close with their tolerances either.
What do I know I drive an omni.

[Glhs60]

I know the guys at BeL quite well and they do great work. I was talking to Larry a few days ago about balancing and he said he did not know of any way to spin balance an inline 4 or 6 cyl. As to static, wieght, balancing you can do that your self if you want to save some money. I assume you are building your 2.5? Are you changing to a G head. Both BeL and ProStock can supply crack free turbo rebuilts for under $300.00 and swirl a little over $300.00
Thanks
Randy

[turboshad]

I am sticking to the swirl. Last year I had to get a new one from pro stock b/c I couldn't find a used one in good condition. I got some port and valve work done on it at the same time. Put a garrett on and it smokes away the little mitsu.

[turboshad]

what do you mean by a static weight balance? How could I do this?

[Mystryguy]

get out your scales and balance everything out till their all the same weight

[turboshad]

I'm assuming you mean the pistons and rods right? How would I go about adding or subtracting weight if they weren't balanced perfectly?

[Glhs60]

Static balancing is equalizing the weight of parts such as pistons and rods. Lighter pistons make more torque so its good we have to remove weight rather than add it. You want to remove weight from the heavy pistons to make them equal to the lightest. Typically you grind some aluminum from the pin boss. Rods are a little more difficult as the big and small end should be balanced seperately. You can grind some metal from the top of the rod and the bottom of the rod cap. Often there are flat spots at both locations refered to as balance pads where you remove metal. Dynamic balancing is done on a machine that spins the crankshaft. After the static balancing is done bob weights that simulate the weight of the pistons, rods, pins etc. and even the estimated oil are attached to the crank and metal is added or removed from the crank, flywheel or harmonic balancer. This is only done on V engines as inline engines are in a state of natural balance. As in everything there are probably exceptions to this but none that apply to the Trans Four.
Thanks
Randy

[supercrackerbox]

[quote]Originally posted by turboshad

They also couldn't track down a torque plate for me. [/QUOTE

You can rent a torque plate from FWDPerformance.

www.fwdperformance.com