Balance Question - Machine shop screwed up.
"Hello your balancing is done, bring us our money..."
They had to add a couple slugs to the 5.3 crank to balance it out. Whoopee.
They didn't get the ring part number/brand I suggested, they got Hastings - good brand, I get it- OK.
Forward fast a couple of weeks, and tonight I go to check some basic things, like rings gap etc, and when I go to insert a compression ring into the bore it just falls right in. Check another ring, same thing.
Google the part number on the hastings box, and its a .030 5.3 set, not a .030 6.0 set. Assuming the guy weighed and used the 5.3 rings for his data (like he said he did)...Is this balance job fucked or will it be OK if I just get and add the 4.030 6.0 rings to it?
Its a 6.0, ls9 cam, 6-6500rpm max, street motor.
After dealing with so many shops and people over the years, I do not like where this could be going (trying to bring it all back to be redone-rechecked etc).
With that said, there may not be enough of a difference between the 3.780" rings and the 4.030" rings to make a difference, but it sounds to me like its the machine shop's problem. Take it all to them, tell them what you've found, and let them show you how much the bobweight changes with the larger rings. Usually 2-3 grams is no big deal.
With that said, there may not be enough of a difference between the 3.780" rings and the 4.030" rings to make a difference, but it sounds to me like its the machine shop's problem. Take it all to them, tell them what you've found, and let them show you how much the bobweight changes with the larger rings. Usually 2-3 grams is no big deal.
We are talking dynamic balance. This is when the components are weighed to calculate a bobweight. These bobweights are attached to the rod journals of the crank and spun up to measure the imbalance of the crankshaft counterweights. Here is a link to help explain the concept.
If the 3.780" rings were weighed instead of the 4.030" rings to calculate the bobweight, the crank was not balanced properly. Depending on the weight difference between the ring sets, it may or may not be acceptable to run as is.
FYI, if the bobweight is calculated without the rings at all, then your crank is most certainly balanced improperly and outside normal tolerances.
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We are talking dynamic balance. This is when the components are weighed to calculate a bobweight. These bobweights are attached to the rod journals of the crank and spun up to measure the imbalance of the crankshaft counterweights. Here is a link to help explain the concept.
If the 3.780" rings were weighed instead of the 4.030" rings to calculate the bobweight, the crank was not balanced properly. Depending on the weight difference between the ring sets, it may or may not be acceptable to run as is.
FYI, if the bobweight is calculated without the rings at all, then your crank is most certainly balanced improperly and outside normal tolerances.
Most V8 cranks are 90 degree cranks, which don't work the same way. The counterweights have to counter the weight of the rods and pistons as they travel up and down so the crank is balanced with the bobweights which simulate those components. Then the necessary weight is removed or added to the counterweights.
The rotating assembly as a whole, with the flywheel and crank pulley probably weighs in excess of 40kg (90lbs). The difference in weight of the rings is probably a few mg.
There are 4,000,000mg in 40kg. Do you think 5mg out of 4 million will make a difference?
I know plenty of shops that do the bob weight with a ring pack that they keep in house simply labeled as "BBC," "SBC," etc. But I also know of shops that want to use your exact ring pack to be precise. If the shop doesn't have you bring your rings, they are using a set they have at the shop to add in for the bob weight. With all that said, they should have a sheet laying around somewhere (maybe even on the invoice) that says what all of the weights were that they can compare to. Lots of places I've seen balance to .5g, so if they know what the 3.78 rings weighed vs what the 4.030 rings weigh, they should be able to either correct it, or let you know for certain if it's good to go.
Most V8 cranks are 90 degree cranks, which don't work the same way. The counterweights have to counter the weight of the rods and pistons as they travel up and down so the crank is balanced with the bobweights which simulate those components. Then the necessary weight is removed or added to the counterweights.
Claims its only a little over a 1/10 of a gram difference due to the fact that the 6.0 top ring and oil ring are thinner then the 5.3.
Says it wont make a difference...
Have to take his word as I really have now way to tell, or to test if that were ever true...
Claims its only a little over a 1/10 of a gram difference due to the fact that the 6.0 top ring and oil ring are thinner then the 5.3.
Says it wont make a difference...
Have to take his word as I really have now way to tell, or to test if that were ever true...








