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Hi,

I have two 49 motors that I am going to have rebuilt. ...a 50 23rd 327cu and a 49 23rd 288cu. (grandfather's car).

I talked to the machine shop that I will have do the work. I asked them if they can balance the engines. They said that they don't usually do it, but they can.

Has anyone had engines rebuilt? ...and if so, have you had them balancedd.

After I have them rebuilt, I would like to stand a quarter on it's edge while the engine is running.

Thanks,

Mark

IMO it would be very foolish indeed to pay the price for a good quality engine rebuild and not include balancing.

If the replacement pistons weigh the same as the original pistons, then a balance job is not necessary from a technical point of view. however,

Quote:

Since that's your criteria, spend the $ for the balance job.

Craig

D-train.

In your very own words and the words of the engine shop:
"They said that they don't usually do it, but they can."

What they told u is probably the answer to your question.
Think about it. If they don't usualy balance engines then what is that is so special about your engine that makes it require balancing????? Why should your engine require balancing when literaly 100's of thousands of engines rebuilt over the many decades at dealerships and rebuilding shops around the world never required it nor needed it?????

"I would like to stand a quarter on it's edge while the engine is running."

Were they NOT that smooth from the factory?????

Cruising speeds are higher now than when your car was built. A balance job is a good idea. How much extra will it cost? It used to add about 10% to a rebuild.

...actually I don't have prices yet. They were going to get back to me with those.

As for being smooth... I know that they were/are. But when I was in the market for the Super-8 everything that I looked at, just didn't seem that smooth. There were alot of cars out there that needed to be tuned, or more. ...mind you that the price range that I was looking in, was NOT show quality by any means. After I get done with both resto's, I hope that they will be tho.

Mark

When you are rebuilding such an old engine, it seems to me that balancing is a great idea. Who knows what parts have been installed before?

Balancing makes everything last longer and run smoother....

Rusty OToole Quote:

The last one I had done was a few years ago on a Pontiac Ram Air III engine with custom pistons and rods. It was $200 in Las Vegas. BTW, all the pistons and rods were EXACTLY the same weight so the only change was minor drilling in the crank counterweights.

Craig

Pat Green Quote:

I beg to differ. "last longer" -- NO. "run smoother" -- Yes.

Craig