Balancing your "built" rotating assy. here's why

Cokedoctor · Post by **Cokedoctor** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 9:46 pm

I am building a 2.4L for my '95 NYG ACR Coupe. I've got Eagle Rods, and JE 10.5:1, .020 pistons, with a Balance Shaft Elimination.

I took everything down to my machinist in Niles, OH so he could bore the block, clean it, hone it, etc. I also gave him the pistons and rods. I told him to check them, see how close they are, and balance them if need be. He said sounds like a plan.

I got the call this afternoon, everything is done. Come pick them up! I jumped in the car and drove 3.5 hours to Niles, OH from Pembroke, NY to pick up my stuff. I get down there at 4:30pm and back into the shop to load up. The block looks fantastic! What he had to tell me, was a little unsettling, though.

He told me the Eagle H-Beam connecting rods, were within 3 grams of eachother. Not terribly bad. He was able to match them within about .1 grams of each other. He didn't have the before and after numbers recorded down for me, unfortunately...but I can see where he did some grinding/shaving on the ends of the rods to balance them up.

Then, he told me, my JE Pistons were all over the place too. This shocked me...considering JE is a high-quality piston. You'd think they wouldn't let them leave the facility without balancing.

Piston #1
Before:381.8 Grams
After:379.0 Grams

Piston #2
Before:380.6 Grams
After:378.9 Grams

Piston #3
Before:381.6 Grams
After:378.9 Grams

Piston #4
Before: 378.8 Grams
After:378.8 Grams

The wrist pins were exactly the same, each.

I'm glad I had my rotating assembly checked out. If there's one thing I cannot stand, is an engine that vibrates every nut and bolt loose in the car.

This is a fair warning to those of you who are doing engine builds...get your stuff checked out. It'll be worth it.

For less than $400...I got my block hot-tanked, cleaned, bored, honed, decked, pistons balanced, rods balanced, and new soft plugs installed. I can't complain.

I've had him do a lot of work for me in the past, and I've never been disappointed.

He does A LOT of work for the Mitsubishi Starion / Chrysler Conquest community over on www.StarQuestClub.com and www.26liter.us. He's a highly recommended individual. He goes by the name "Dad" on both of those forums. His name is Randy.

If your looking for someone you can trust..this guy is who your looking for. Just tell him I sent you. He knows me by username and my real name. His website is www.enginemachineservice.com.

Justin

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 9:54 pm

I wish I knew about them 7 or 8 years ago, when I had my 2.6 in my Raider rebuilt. The hack job the place in Youngstown did was a disaster.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:26 am

Did you have the cylinders bored to match each specific piston? That's one piece of advice that has always stuck with me from a shop that builds race engines.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:25 am

My Wisecos were preweighed with the weights sharpied on the sides. IIRC they were within a gram of each other.

Cokedoctor · Post by **Cokedoctor** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:57 am

Donkeypuncher wrote:Did you have the cylinders bored to match each specific piston? That's one piece of advice that has always stuck with me from a shop that builds race engines.

Yessir.

ZeroChad wrote:My Wisecos were preweighed with the weights sharpied on the sides. IIRC they were within a gram of each other.

Mine are within .1 grams of each other now, hahaha.

Post by **Canada** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:22 am

Nice J. Glad to hear you're bringing that little NYG back to life. I want dibs on it when you get tired of it and decide to sell though

Carlisle?

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:54 am

That's crazy you went to Ohio for that shit. Especially the dump that is Niles.

lol I feel bad when I have to drive 15 minutes across town to get work done.

Cokedoctor · Post by **Cokedoctor** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:14 am

Chris...I hope to make it to Carlisle. I've missed the past 2 years.

Swordfish2Cowboy wrote:That's crazy you went to Ohio for that shit. Especially the dump that is Niles. lol I feel bad when I have to drive 15 minutes across town to get work done.

Yeah but he's the only guy I trust anymore. He's outstanding.

Cokedoctor · Post by **Cokedoctor** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:06 am

Canada wrote:Nice J. Glad to hear you're bringing that little NYG back to life. I want dibs on it when you get tired of it and decide to sell though

Carlisle?

I forgot to ZING you here...and say..

Why, just so you can sell it later? lol

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:08 am

Cokedoctor wrote:
Canada wrote:Nice J. Glad to hear you're bringing that little NYG back to life. I want dibs on it when you get tired of it and decide to sell though

Carlisle?
I forgot to ZING you here...and say..

Why, just so you can sell it later? lol

OH SNAP!

Post by **Canada** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:35 am

Ass lol!

Cokedoctor · Post by **Cokedoctor** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:56 am

I've owned the car for 5 years now. I get asked a lot by people and friends to sell it. This is ONE car, that I don't care if its the last thing I have to sell to put food on my plate. It is NOT leaving my possession. She's with me for good.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:38 pm

Sounds like this engine is gonna last a good 100k+ miles. Good job on being smart about building that engine, it's the simple things that make the difference.