Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Balancing the rotating assembly

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 6, 2009 | 04:58 PM
  #1  
butler's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
Default Balancing the rotating assembly

I recently purchased a 383 forged rotating assembly from scoggin dickey with the 227.00 upgrade to balance it. I took it down to Bob Morton Enterprise to hone the motor, check the deck and align bore if necessary with arp studs. He checked the balance and the crank was 5 grams off and each rod and piston was a different weight from the other. I emailed John Ginter at scoggindickey and he said the way a motor is balanced is that you take the rods and pistons and try to get it close on opposing sides of the crank. The problem I had with that was the the rods were sealed in plastic and the rods and pistons were not numbered to pair them up and what journal they should go on. It was my understanding that you weigh the rods and pistons come up with the lightest rod and piston and equalize them. The bearings and rings are generally close in weight. Add that weight which gives you your bobweight then add or take away from the crank to get it zero balanced. What are your thoughts, please.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2009 | 06:43 PM
  #2  
KCS's Avatar
KCS
Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,859
Likes: 323
From: Conroe, TX
Default

Originally Posted by butler
I recently purchased a 383 forged rotating assembly from scoggin dickey with the 227.00 upgrade to balance it. I took it down to Bob Morton Enterprise to hone the motor, check the deck and align bore if necessary with arp studs. He checked the balance and the crank was 5 grams off and each rod and piston was a different weight from the other. I emailed John Ginter at scoggindickey and he said the way a motor is balanced is that you take the rods and pistons and try to get it close on opposing sides of the crank. The problem I had with that was the the rods were sealed in plastic and the rods and pistons were not numbered to pair them up and what journal they should go on. It was my understanding that you weigh the rods and pistons come up with the lightest rod and piston and equalize them. The bearings and rings are generally close in weight. Add that weight which gives you your bobweight then add or take away from the crank to get it zero balanced. What are your thoughts, please.
5 grams isn't much, especially considering it's from one machine to another, with two different operators. The way you setup the bobweights on the crank can make that difference. Then there is oil. Some shops add weight to the bobweight to account for oil, some don't. Who is wrong? Once oil gets all over the rotating assembly, it will change it anyways. Who knows how much it will change? I say run it.

Usually, numbering the rods and pistons is up to the machinist/builder. It's not relevant to the balance of the crank, more like the clearances. In my experience, aftermarket rods are almost always within a gram or two from the maufacturer. Stock rods are the only ones I've seen that would need to be worked on to balance. How far off where the rods and who made them?
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2009 | 09:08 PM
  #3  
butler's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
Default

Scat h beam rods, forged manley pistons, forged scat crank. Don't know the variances yet but will find out. This builder is a perfectionist. He said he bought 12 sets of manley pistons the same ones that came with my kit when they first came out and they were all different as far as the wrist pin alignment to the crankshaft. He knew the owner and called him when he was on vacation and told him about it. They conferenced called and got it straightened out. I never realized that there were so many variances in the weights till I did a little research. He talked about x y and z stuff. He definitely is a perfectionist. Said diamond makes the best and most accurate pistons. I really just wondered what is the correct way to balance a motor since I am not a machinist.
Reply
Old Jul 9, 2009 | 02:20 PM
  #4  
SKI's Avatar
SKI
11 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Default

I would like to know also ...
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:03 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE