Do I really need to have my internals balanced?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
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From: Canton, GA
Do I really need to have my internals balanced? I have a new stock crank that has never been run, new Eagle rods, new Wiseco pistons, and was wondering if internal balancing is really necessary. Max RPM will be about 6500 and will use a little N20 along the way. What are your thoughts since the LS1 is already internally balanced?
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? I would, it always pays to double check other folks work. The rods and pistons etc might be dead on...then again maybe not. I'd balance it.
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From: Grove City Ohio/Port Washington L.I sometimes
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? Todd I'm shocked you even considered not doing it.I think it would be penny wise and pound foolish to skip this important step.Good to see you coming together.Dave
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? If you were using stock rods and pistons id say no, but because you replaced the rods and pistons with aftermarket its a wise choice to because of the weight difference. Your bearings will thank you in about 20k miles also.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Canton, GA
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? OK guys...thanks for the inputs. Local machne shop said only about $150 since the LS1 is already an internally balanced setup. Should not be too painful I guess. Will prolly drop off the parts this week for balancing.
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From: Texas, it's like your state, but better.
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? 
good choice. i contemplated not doing mine, but in the long run, it's much nicer. im very glad i did it. makes things VERY smooth up past 6500. and there's no "man... now im gonna have to take this thing all the way back apart to have it balanced" feeling there either. 
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? FWIW I had talked to my local machine shop a while ago about possibly rebuilding my shortblock. When I said Eagle H-beams, he told me it would cost extra to balance. Because the Eagle rods are so much heavier than the stock LS1 rods, he would have to use a lot of mallory metal for counter weight.
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From: Texas, it's like your state, but better.
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? it think it depends on the machinist, but i didnt have any material added to mine, just removed.. diamond pistons, eagle h-beams, stock crank..
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From: Dublin, CA
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? I just had balancing done - Diamond pistons & pins, Eagle rods, stock LS1 crank, balancer, flexplate, rings, bearings.
The pistons were untouched as they were perfect. The rods had some of the piston end ground. The balancer wobbled, and I replaced that. The bearings, pins and rings were needed to set the bob weights. The crank was way off, see pics below:
The pistons were untouched as they were perfect. The rods had some of the piston end ground. The balancer wobbled, and I replaced that. The bearings, pins and rings were needed to set the bob weights. The crank was way off, see pics below:
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From: Hartsdale, NY
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? hey 98 roadster:
...so they found the lightest connecting rod in the bunch and removed material from all other rods to make them all the same weight, right?
Then the bobweight was determined and the crank was balanced to this weight, right?
About how much di this cost?
...so they found the lightest connecting rod in the bunch and removed material from all other rods to make them all the same weight, right?
Then the bobweight was determined and the crank was balanced to this weight, right?
About how much di this cost?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,060
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From: Canton, GA
Re: Do I really need to have my internals balanced? I dropped off some of the parts at lunch, but forgot the flex plate, rod bearings, and rings. I trust these guys because they have about 30 of those NHRA trophies from the last few years. They build big dollar Mopar stuff (hemis and such) and they also race a lot.
Those are some good pictures that show how minor some of this stuff can be, but how important it really is to making your engine run smoothly.
Those are some good pictures that show how minor some of this stuff can be, but how important it really is to making your engine run smoothly.
