Balancing Shafts

[d_snook6]

Are there balanceing shafts in 2.5L turbo enignes? And can you remove them like in a TBI to free up some hp?

[turbovanman]

Yes and Yes!

[d_snook6]

is it worth doing?
Are we talking a noticable gain here?

[turbovanman]

People say they notice a little gain in power, and the engine the same or a bit rougher. I put mine back in, I am running MP motor mounts and the steering wheel would move an inch at idle with the A/C on. Much nicer now and I don't notice any difference in power.

[turbojerk]

I removed the balance shafts from my 90 2.5 TII motor, but I opted to have the rotating assy balanced instead (i.e rods, pistons, crank and flywheel). I haven't put the motor in the car yet.....I hope the extra money I spent on engine balancing was worth it.

T

[turbovanman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbojerk I removed the balance shafts from my 90 2.5 TII motor, but I opted to have the rotating assy balanced instead (i.e rods, pistons, crank and flywheel). I haven't put the motor in the car yet.....I hope the extra money I spent on engine balancing was worth it. T

I had it balanced too, but I guess the MP mounts are really hard,

[Una]

I removed them from two of my 2.5L engines. I didn't notice any difference with them removed. Both as far as power and vibrations.

[turbojerk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbovanman I had it balanced too, but I guess the MP mounts are really hard,

I don't care much for any of the [[[[[HARDER]]]]] motor mounts. I lived with them for a while in my GLH-T, but I finally got the shitz of them and changed back to factory mounts. Nice, quite, smooth, relaxing factory mounts. I don't think that I'll ever go back to hardened mounts now that I know first hand what the differences are. Unless its strictly a race car....


T

[turbovanman]

I am going to try Poly Bushings mounts, they are softer but harder if that makes sense. Still leaving the shafts in though,

[Una]

I have a polybushings tranny mount, no vibration increase when it was installed.

gary donovan says to yank those shafts frees up 10-15 hp. It also gives the advatage of another quart of oil.

[desertsnake1991]

Chrysler copied the balance shaft idea from the similar sized engines in the Porsche 944...the engineers put those things in there for a reason boys and girls! Mine runs soooooo smooth with them, and the idea of that car cruising at 140+mph over here without them would be ludicrous...other (safer/saner) ways to free up HP, and more than that, maintain drivability and reliablity...

[Una]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt.Lee gary donovan says to yank those shafts frees up 10-15 hp. It also gives the advatage of another quart of oil.

Advantage? My oil cost $5 a quart. I left the balance shafts in the pan, simply cut the chain. Last time I did it I cut the chain, removed them, plugged the oil hole and put on the CB 2.2 oil pan.

[iTurbo]

I've removed them entirely from two 2.5 T1 engines. I'm not sure if the car was really any faster but they would sure rev faster. Defintately made heel-and-toe shifting a little snappier.

[turbovanman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt.Lee gary donovan says to yank those shafts frees up 10-15 hp. It also gives the advatage of another quart of oil.

The only time that will help is up the rev range, which makes total sense, as rotating mass is energy etc but for a daily driver, I doubt you will notice too much. I didnt notice any difference in how fast it revs but I also have an automatic. As for the 10-15Hp, that has been debated and no one has any real dyno proof, I think on Donovans site, he figures it worth a few HP. If you do remove them, you need to baffle the oil pan or you will get big time slosh which will negate the benefits or use a shallower oil pan,