Crank replacement or Tapp the Snout
Whats up you guys I had a question in regards to replacing a stock crank. I was wondering if it needed to be balanced if I replaced just the crank. It is going to be a stock replacement for my 2000 z28 and the pistons and rods are staying in. I'm under the impression that when you replace the crank you need to balance it to the lightest rod and piston. Is this needed if it is just a stock replacement.
Last edited by oxblood!z28; Dec 6, 2011 at 11:38 AM.
Most factory cranks are off balance by a little bit as they are all balanced the same. They aren't balanced to the exact pistonp and rods that are going in that particular engine, which could be heavier or lighter than other pistonp. If everything is stock and you have a crank that came out of an ls1, I wouldn't worry about it.

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@Jake i was wondering what you ment by being more efficient if I got it balanced.
Do you guys know the cons of tapping the snout of the crank to fit a new crank bolt. It was mentioned to me before, and its a seems ok to do in my head but what problems would you run into down the road in real life?
less vibrations, more reliability. in turn, more efficient.
however, like i said, stock cranks are balanced to what the rod and piston combo is SUPPOSED to weigh, not what it actually weighs. casting and machining differences will throw the weight off some, causing all rotating assemblies to be balanced differently, some off by more, some less.
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less vibrations, more reliability. in turn, more efficient.
however, like i said, stock cranks are balanced to what the rod and piston combo is SUPPOSED to weigh, not what it actually weighs. casting and machining differences will throw the weight off some, causing all rotating assemblies to be balanced differently, some off by more, some less.

COMP - FAST - PACESETTER - WISECO PISTONS - LUNATI - CALLIES - NEW TSP BRAND CRANK & RODS - COMETIC GASKETS
RAM CLUTCHES - MOSER ENGINEERING - ARH HEADERS - ARP - GM BOLTS AND GASKETS - MSD - NGK
POWERBOND - ASP - PRECISION INDUSTRIES - YANK - CIRCLE D - AND MORE!
I've tried removing the bolt with drilling a hole to use an easy out but I had no luck. I would tapp the snout but I'm worried that something catastrophic would happen down the road. I'm still wondering what the cons are if I tapp the snout and go that way. I miss my car and would like to get it back on the road I'm sure some of you gys can relate.
@trey1010 what size tap did you use for the end of the crankshaft?
This.
oxbloodz28!, Re-tap it. It's not that big of a deal & far less expensive than buying & balancing (yes, you would need to balance). Just start w/ small bits until nearly all of the old bolt is removed, then use the bit for one tap size larger, then tap it. I have done it & run several thousand miles on the crank since, without issue.
I've tried removing the bolt with drilling a hole to use an easy out but I had no luck. I would tapp the snout but I'm worried that something catastrophic would happen down the road. I'm still wondering what the cons are if I tapp the snout and go that way. I miss my car and would like to get it back on the road I'm sure some of you gys can relate.
@trey1010 what size tap did you use for the end of the crankshaft?






