Pretty much the same? This kind of work is not for the average backyarder or ill-equipped engine repair/machine shop. I may be struggling with the terminology but I just take engine work pretty seriously. It seems like some corners are being cut and if it is a money issue it won't be a bit cheaper after the fact. If your machinist is not equipped per the advice from Dyces' above post a change in service providers is in order, of course only if any of this matters to you in the end.
I shall have a word with regards to balancing the rotating assembly when I go down on Monday. I appreciate all and any help
Strongly suggest/recommend balancing the entire rotating/reciprocating assembly(dampner to clutch)!! cheap insurance & a much smoother/longer lived motor!!
^^^^ This Sacramento response, in spades. As a young novice (15 in 1957) I doidn't have access to the 'knowledge', and carefully built an otherwise UNbalanced 304" flathead. Zooom... Fast. A couple of months later, stuff was shaking when engine was running...an older guy suggested I have it balanced! I obeyed. Worked thru 5 year apprenticeship, turned out I didn't know as much as I had thought!
Not directed at the OP but it's a given that if this kind of advise is not taken you just know there will be a whole nuther thread generated from it, been there, can't hold their hand forever.
Didn’t get the chance to get down the machinists today. I can understand the need to balance the assembly in a high rpm race motor but didn’t think it would be that crucial in a street motor. I’m pretty sure factory built motors aren’t balanced.
I remember the Purolater oil filter ad : " pay me now or pay him later" pointing to a tow truck.. A few $ on the front end will save a lot on the far end! People constantly remind me that the comedian Ron White is always right about what you can't fix.....
For the cost of a build, balancing is a cafeteria-style add on and not a prohibitive expense. A "while you're at it" thing the way I see it. I gave them my flywheel and clutch plate too with my last build.
Very true. IMHO, Balancing the whole deal is part of ANY engine build. It has to be done, or......well you will find out the hard way.
The OP hasn't posted in over a year but my thoughts on balancing/not balancing are that newly assembled engines from the factory with known parts can be consistant but it's the engines and/or the parts that many times nobody knows the history of, especially considering the amount of questionable offshore parts being mfg in the last ten to fifteen years, cheap insurance in my view.
DD , you are right on! This site is fine for what old king pin fits what straight axle, but the engine rebuild advice is dated and incorrect, in the last 20 years any big or small Chev block that comes into the shop has terrible core shift that requires boring with a torque plate and checking cam to lifter bore alignment checking and corrective machining and sleeves installed. This stuff is 60 years old, and it shows. Between iffy quality of valve train components, mixing up a witches brew of incorrect oil additives and poor lifter/cam bore alignment, no surprise these guys are having cam failures. Balancing and align honing are a must for reliability , including factors such as quench and cam selection and new improved cylinder head designs to match today's fuel. Most of them are living in the past. Too bad.
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