2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

I'm planning on using the following parts in a 427CI build up:

- Callies Magnum Series 4" 4340 Steel crank
- 6.125 Crower LS1 Sportsman Rods (0.927 Pin size)
- Diamond 4.125" bore forged pistons w/ 0.927" pins


What is involved in having this stuff balanced (know it needs to be done by a machine shop)? Any idea of the cost to have a rotating assembly balanced?

98 Silver Bullet

iTrader: (28)

I just paid $175.00 to have mine balanced. Pretty interesting to watch. Using a digital scale, he got all the pistons weighing the same by milling a small amount of material from the center of the inside. He had a special scale to use for the rods and got them weighing the same. He then got a rod bearing, rod, ring set, and piston and got a weight. He placed the crank in machine that spins it and has a readout like a tire machine. He made up a set of "bob weights "and clamped them to crank and spun it. He took off material and added malory (? sp) where needed to get it balanced. I have an A4. So he took the fexplate and spun it and had to drill one 5/16" hole to balance it.

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

Mine was around $200.00. Definately worth it...

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

Since I have a manual transmission, do I need to take the flywheel to him? I thought LS1s were internally balanced and the flywheel was neutral (or do you take it to make SURE the flywheel is neutral).

98 Silver Bullet

iTrader: (28)

He asked me to bring my balancer and flexplate just so he could check then. My question was that you do all this and then bolt on a torque converter to the flexplate. His responce was you are at the mercy of builder of the torque converter.

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

You would hope that the converter would be properly balanced...

theblur98ss

iTrader: (71)

Aren't the lunati kits supposed to be balanced already? How far off was it?

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

Several people who I have talked to (both own and/or built/machined engines with Lunati stuff) have said that when they did a "check" balance they were quite a bit off.....


To me, at less than $300 for the machine work, it would be STUPID to not have it checked (I know my machine shop does not really charge anything if no "work" is required....just like $50 or so for their "time"...)....

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

It wasn't off a ton but I had it "fine tune balanced" with the fly wheel and the ASP pulley. He spun it and showed me and it was off. He said it wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. What is $200 when you are throwing $5000+ at it...

Vents

iTrader: (9)

yea but to me, a 3k rotating assembly that isint balanced allready is foolish.

balancing = good. just spend the money and do it.

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

I guess when they say they are balanced, it falls with in a certain spec range. I wanted mine to be perfect. Also you would have to send them your crank pulley and fly wheel to have it properly balanced.

BBADWS6

iTrader: (8)

How far out of balance is a stock crank?

Vents

iTrader: (9)

well, not really, the LS1 is all internal balance, and the only thing that would really be diffrent here would be the flywheel on an M6 car. LS1 balancers are relatively the same weight and balance.

SStrokerAce

iTrader: (2)

Check to find a shop or crank guy that can zero gram balance your crank. My crank guy does just that, a $7500 balancer can't really do that but a $25K one can!

Bret