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the more things i take apart on my new 28-526,the more problems i find. my new old block would not clean out the rust pits at .060, sleeves on order to sleeves back to std. also have bad throw on #6 so will have to grand the the extra crank that came with the car. my crank grinder charges $200 to do the crank and $800 to take off the 4 counter weights and replace them. my question is have any of the readers taken off and replaced the weights. thanks for your help. dell

my question is have any of the readers taken off and replaced the weights

I've never actually done it entirely myself, hands-on, but have been closely involved with machine shops quite a few times times doing it on 320, 384 and 356 engines. $800 to remove/reattach the counterweights seems very reasonable to me.

I've removed the counter weights from a 356 but the machine shop replaced them with socket head bolts and filled the holes with weld metal.

Removal was done by drilling a hole in each blind retaining bolt and using a Lisle brand splined screw extractor to turn it out.

If I was to do it again I'd try to find a different way of replacement that would be easier to service if necessary.

The two machine shops I worked with did it a bit differently, they set up the crank in a milling machine and milled the weld and bolt heads out, then removed the weights and the remaining portion of the original bolts. After turning the journals they made new bolts according to the original style and after tightening, cut the remaining shank off and welded them, followed of course by rebalancing the assembly.

Some years ago I removed the weights from my 333 engine by machining the crankshaft in a radial drill.
The bolt tops were machined down to the point where the weight would come off.

The remaining thread was then able to be grasped with a wrench and unscrewed. After the repairs were completed the weights were then refastened with high tensile socket head screws.

The holes were not filled to the top of the weight so that the screws can be accessed again. There does not appear to be any appreciable change to the engine vibration.