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to balance or not to balance: 360 |
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Softbuster 
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Joined: Nov/08/2014 Location: Pennsylvania Status: Offline Points: 116 |
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 Topic: to balance or not to balance: 360Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 3:26pm |
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So I have my Car apart fixing everything that i did wrong when I was young and dumb and put this thing together. The 360 was a mild rebuild, 10 under on the crank, 30 over cast pistons, factory rods. Only put about 1500 miles on it, barely even broke in. I remember when i was helping to pull the engine apart that I pried on the harmonic balancer the wrong way until the outer part moved a good 1/8 inch.
So while i have the engine out I would like to put on a new balancer on it, but that may change how the engine is balanced. So my question is can I have the engine balanced while it is assembled or does it need to be pulled back apart to do so? It also has a automatic flexplate from a 304. Or is balancing not really worth it since i never need to run more than 5K rpm?
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SC397
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Joined: Apr/30/2009 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 5476 |
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 4:03pm |
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It has to come apart. Yes, it is worth it.
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PROSTOCKTOM
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Joined: Jun/20/2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 2450 |
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 4:07pm |
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The engine has to be apart to balance the componets. I balance every engine I build regardless of use, however there are millions of engines operaing under 5000 rpms that are never balanced. I think you can always tell when an engine has been balanced because it spins a lot smoother. Your car, your money, but odds are in your favor if you don't balance it.
Tom
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Sonic Silver
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Joined: Nov/23/2011 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 7949 |
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 4:33pm |
Edited by Sonic Silver - Feb/10/2019 at 5:21pm |
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Trader
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 4:46pm |
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First question I would have is did the engine run smooth when it was running at all RPM ranges you took/take it to?
If the engine ran smooth, then you really only need to match balance the changed components. In your case the balancer and flex plate if you are changing it. I currently have a 401 that I have overbored and am changing pistons, rings, wrist pins and doing new bearings. It turns out that the new pistons, rings and wrist pins, total each, are only 1.5 g different then what was currently in the motor. A shop (unless a very, very expensive shop) cannot balance a V8 to show that 1.5g difference. It's not being re-balanced. We use to balance everything at my old workplace, every time we worked on it. Records would show that 10g either way would not show, 15g and you see a spike develop. Nascar, will overbalance an engine for high RPM running. A diesel truck engine should be under balanced. I'm not stating that balancing is not important - it is, but, if your talking bolt on components that can be matched to original components, it is not worth the cost of re-balancing everything. My opinion.
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wheelz
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 6:03pm |
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rebuild the original damper install and be done with it in this application. Likely not enough difference in piston weightto have a great effect under 5k rpm . The 304 flexplate could be a bigger problem but unsure
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BDCVG
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Joined: Dec/19/2007 Location: Endless Mtns. Status: Offline Points: 993 |
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 6:09pm |
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Definately get a rebuild from Damper Doctor or Damper dude and if You can afford the balance it's worth it. Probably contribute to longevity too.
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1970 AMX 390 5 spd full Control Freaks front and rear suspension
2014 E63 AMG-S wagon 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 MK III |
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motorhead_1
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 6:23pm |
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the 304 flexplate on the 360 likely already destroyed the thrust bearing. been there. done that. didn't get a tshirt. got a rebuild instead......
what's your crank end play?
is the balancer 360 or 304? |
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69 SC/Rambler tribute 401/th400, 68 Rebel SST LSA, 66 F100 460/c6, 88 Merkur Xr4Ti, 71 Jaguar XJ6 LS1, 08 Supercharged Tundra
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Softbuster
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 7:02pm |
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The balancer is original to the 360, my only concern with rebuilding it is that it comes back exact so that i dont end up with timing (and balance) off. So a good rebuild place is what i'm looking for.
How would i check end play? Where is the thrust bearing and how do i check it. The 360 is on a stand and i can do some things but it will not be coming apart simply to balance the rotating assy.
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Softbuster
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Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 7:07pm |
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The torque converter of the trans bolts to the flexplate and is full of fluid, should't the fluid find the imbalance and alleviate some of it?
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PROSTOCKTOM wrote: