to balance or not to balance: 360

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

If you were happy with how it ran before, just change the balancer and be done with it. A stock balancer is directly interchangeable with another stock balance for the same engine capacity. 

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
WesternRed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Aug/03/2010 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 5799	Post Options Post Reply Quote WesternRed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 7:11pm
	If you were happy with how it ran before, just change the balancer and be done with it. A stock balancer is directly interchangeable with another stock balance for the same engine capacity.
	I've finally given up drinking for good...........now I only drink for evil.

purple72Gremlin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 16611	Post Options Post Reply Quote purple72Gremlin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 8:24pm
	get the correct 360 flexplate....the 304 flexplate will not work.....

Trader Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: May/15/2018 Location: Ontario Status: Offline Points: 6881	Post Options Post Reply Quote Trader Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb/10/2019 at 9:10pm
	The torque converter is a hydraulic motor/pump, it does not balance the engine. If someone previously "balanced" the engine for the 304 flex plate that does have balance weights then any new flex plate will have to be match balanced to it. If the 304 flex plate was balanced to what a factory 360 flex plate is, then you don't need to do anything but change them. If you don't know, match balance the old flex plate to the new. The balancer if original, can be replaced or repaired. If being repaired - match mark the inner hub and outer counterweight. Then when it comes back you know it is exactly in the same alignment.

farna Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19676	Post Options Post Reply Quote farna Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb/11/2019 at 6:32am
	Your problem is mis-matched parts. So you need to get a 360 balancer and flex-plate for starters. It will run with a 304 flexplate, may or may not cause a noticeable vibration. The motor mounts will absorb some, as will the damper on front, but there will be a vibration going through the crank and that will eventually destroy the bearings -- thrust part first apparently. The thrust bearing is one of the main bearings, #2 or #3. Your first problem is the flex plate. Did you install the 304 flexplate? If you know for sure it's a 304 flexplate (engine swap?) and it wasn't altered when it was installed, you should be able to just get the correct 360 flexplate and balancer and call it good. A stock to mild build 360 will be fine for over 100K miles, no other issues withstanding. Is it a good idea to balance? Well, it doesn't cost that much any more, and it will add some life to the engine (mainly bearings) even with a stock rebuild. Not sure I'd do a full balance on a stock rebuild that wouldn't see hard use, but would do a "poor man's balance" even then -- during a rebuild with the engine apart. That's just making sure all the pistons and rod ends are within a gram or so of each other (weigh all, match to the lightest weight). It helps and is cheap and easy, just takes some time. I wouldn't disassemble a low mileage engine and do that or any balancing unless I was going to spin it at high rpm (5000+) often though, or I was unsure of what was done with the mis-matched parts, as may be your case.
	Frank Swygert