Engine Balancing

[barracudabob]

Hi, I'm new here, this is my first post. I recently inherited a 2.2 Shelby Daytona from my son and am in the process of getting it ready for a few strip bashes. This is my first forray into the 4 cylinder turbo scene. I have a vast experience with mopar big blocks, and now I will learn a thing or two about smaller motors. Anyway, I plan to replace the stock cast pistons with a set of wiseco's. Do I need to rebalance? This motor will not see much past 6000 as it is pretty much stock, but who knows what may be in the future for it. I want to do it right the first time, which is why I plan to use forged pistons. Any hints or tips will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Bob

[84TurboZxt]

I Balance any engine I take out, small price to pay for a smooth running engine.

[turbovanman]

Check out www.thedodgegarage.com turbo database section, this will give you a massive head start, read it 100's of times.

Now for your engine, I highly recommend balancing it. The crank is usually a bit out but the rods are terrible. I had mine done on my new engine and it was out really badly. Granted its a 2.5T1 but still, Mopar was never known for its balancing,

[Phreakish]

wait wait wait... I've always been told that balancing wasn't required?? man, guess its back to the machine shop *again* for just a little more finish work, *again*...

Never ends!! lol. BTW, about how much do you guys pay for balancing?

[turbovanman]

Depends, around $100-150. If its a 5spd, take the pressure plate and flywheel also!

[Phreakish]

will do... thats not much, another $200 (need crank finished up AGAIN, never goto a cheap machinist!) isn't bad. My shop will probably be on the high side of things, in my experience...

But for a good, smooth running engine, its worth it!

[offtopic]
I remember my uncle telling me about building his ford 460's, he'd install each piston/rod and check with a fishing scale the pull it took to move them in the bore, then file the rings ever so slightly until they were REAL close - never heard a big v8 with a BIG cam idle so well before! He built some NICE engines.
[/offtopic]

[84TurboZxt]

ya, I get mine done for $150, I know a guy that buys a new truck and takes it to the shop... pulls the engine and gets it Balanced, Some people wonder why!? It makes a better pulling rig and add some HP to boot. and ya flywheel and pressure plate need it also.