I'm building a 6.0l LQ4 for a swap into a 1st gen Chevy II... I'm getting the internals balanced and realized that they need the harmonic balancer to balance it... if I plan on changing the accessories (probably to f- body) will the truck balancer work with them?

 

The balancer will have to be zero balanced separate from the assembly, because it's not keyed. It can go on the crank in any position. The shop just wants to make sure that your balancer is close. My shop did the same with my ls2 build, and it was fine. Have them balance your clutch assembly, if your going manual transmission.

 

I'm going automatic. They said they wanted the flex plate too. Thanks!

 

Lol. LS engines are internally balanced. They literally don’t need any of that stuff to balance your rotating assembly.

 

Well that's concerning. I'm hoping the guy I talked to was just the counter guy. I know the machine shop is pretty reputable. Hmmm.

 

LS harmonic balancers, flywheels, and flexplates come balanced already because the engine is internally balanced, as mentioned above. Just balance your internal rotating assembly and you're good!

 

How about the accessory issue? Wil the truck balancer/pulley work with different accessories? I'm thinking that I'll likely use f- body ps, alt and probably vintage air ac. What water pump would I need?

 

If you’re usin fbody power steering, then you need fbody balancer and waterpump lol

 

That's what I was figuring but wasn't sure. This is my virgin voyage in the LS world.

 

Y-car, F-car and truck harmonic dampers have 3 different depths... it makes it difficult to mix/match accessories.

 

I'm assuming the f-body balancer will work on the LQ4 crank? So get the f-body balancer, water pump, alternator & ps pump, right?

 

Correct on all counts, plus get all accompanying bracketry. You will be set.

 

Them wanting the flex plate and balancer is smart. Sounds like they want to not only balance the internals but also ensure that the rest of the parts are balanced too. They are just being thorough, that's a good thing.

However they would have to balance the balancer and flex plate independently, not as a part of the entire bottom end assembly, because they can go on any direction. If they could only go on one way they could balance it all as an assembly.

All the posts above are correct and whatever balancer you use is the accessories you go with. Or you have to modify your accessory depth to match the depth of the pulley. Each chassis vehicle had a different belt drive depth.

 

awesome! Thanks for the help guys!

 

or they could mark the position so it could be assembled in the same position or very close to it.

 

OP, check out HOLLEYS web site for LS swap drives. explains a lot. I originally went with somebody else's system and constantly ate belts, I ditched that one after hours of adjusting stuff according to what they were telling me to do . installed the HOLLEY kit and BAM , never looked back! Also lowers the alt. for better clearance. as for balancing , my guy who has a excellent rep and many years doing it, wants ALL the reciprocating assy.

 

Cool. I was looking at dirty dingo or trying to stay with factory components. Never knew about Holley... I'll check them out... Thanks!