The balancing weights in a balancer are just to balance the balancer, right? The reason I ask is that the stock balancer on my 97 had no weights. The replacement balancer off a new 2004 crate engine had one weight. I just positioned the new balancer in the same position it came off the crate engine. Is this correct?

 

LSx engines are internally balanced.

You are correct that the balancer itself must be a “balanced” unit.

It would be impossible to install (transfer) the balance in the same position, as the LSx crank has no keyway for indexing the balancer. (Harmonic Damper)

 

The crate engine balancer was marked with TDC when removed so I was able install in same position on my existing crankshaft.

 

Found this in the manual about the harmonic balancer but have never heard anyone talk here about weights on the balancer being transferred. Is it a non-issue?

Document ID# 892751
2002 Chevrolet Corvette


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Engine Balancing
The 1997-2004 5.7L LS1/LS6 engine with crankshaft balancer is a balanced assembly. On manual transmission applications, the flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate is also a balanced assembly. During the powertrain build process, balance weights may be added to the crankshaft balancer and/or flywheel as required.

In order to maintain engine/clutch assembly balance, it may be necessary to install or remove balance weights as detailed below:

Crankshaft Balancer
Existing balancer onto existing engine: The balancer position must be marked prior to removal and installed to the original position. Refer to Crankshaft Balancer Removal .
New balancer onto an existing engine: Install the same size balance weights into the new balancer in the same location as the old component. Refer to Crankshaft Balancer Cleaning and Inspection .
Engine Flywheel

Important
The flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate are a balanced assembly and are not available as individual components. The pressure plate mounts or locates onto the flywheel via two dowel pins in the flywheel. If the pressure plate is not aligned properly onto the dowel pins and tightened down, the pins may bend and the plate may be incorrectly positioned which will effect component balance. Refer to Clutch Assembly Replacement .


Existing flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate assembly onto the existing engine: Flywheel position must be marked prior to removal and installed to the original position. Refer to Engine Flywheel Removal .
Existing flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate onto a new engine: Remove balance weights, if applicable from the flywheel.
New flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate assembly onto an existing engine: Do not transfer or install balance weights.
New flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate assembly onto a new engine: Do not install balance weights.

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Document ID# 892751
2002 Chevrolet Corvette

 

I don't know the answer to your question, but most any balancer I've seen are drilled to remove material to balance the balancer. If there are weights added, this would make me think it was done to compensate for an engine imbalance and not the balancer. That being said, I would think you would want to remove the weights seeing you are installing the unit onto a different engine then the one it came with. In fact the engine it came off of might have a balance issue if the new balancer was added without the weights.

 

This would indicate I need to remove the balancing weight on the new balancer as the old balancer had none.

 

I have read the weights are transferred from the original to the new. Had the new been in a box rather than on motor, then you would have no weights to transfer to the new one. I would think the new one would be installed without weights as was the original.

 

I tend to agree. However, I read somewhere that the balancing weights were only there to balance the balancer which would go along with timemender's statement that LSx engines are internally balanced.

 

The engine is designed to be internal balanced, and the engine does not go through a dedicated balance procedure. There are mass requirements for all the reciprocating components which should give a balance engine without any external mass. Sometimes this doesn’t hold true and external mass is added to correct any imbalance that may remain. As stated in the earlier posting, drilling is used to balance flywheel or balancer component imbalances. Add on mass normally is used for small engine related imbalance issues.

 

If the egines does not go through a dedicated balancing procedure, how would it be known that external mass must be added? (I'm not trying to be a wise ***)

 

The first couple of sentences from the manual seem to indicate that the assembly is balanced as a whole (balancer, crank, and flywheel). I have not read anything on this forum about anyone having a vibration problem after installing a balancer, but definately there have been vibration issues after a flywheel.

 

I think that's correct. If not, why whould the FSM say anything about reinstalling a weighted balancer in the same position as when removed?

 

 

Very legit question. Once the engine is assembled it goes through a test procedure that will flag any engine parameters that exceeded predetermine levels, including vibration. I expect this would allow it to be corrected by running a balance test and adding weight as needed.

 

Based on the service manual (post #13), the OP should remove the weight from the balancer he is going to install, since the factory balancer is devoid of additional weights IF HE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. If his sig is correct, and he has an A4, this is not required. All things being equal, I would still replace the balancer with the factory configuration.

 

OK. It seems as if I need to remove the weight from the new balancer. Do you just drill it out? (It's allready on the car, by the way.)

 

You should be able to tap it out with a drift provided the hole is not tapered.

 

I would take it to the machine shop and have new balancer match balanced to the old one.

 

This is something you do on all your builds? I mean.....seriously....