engine balancing
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 114
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From: tucson az
engine balancing
ok so last night i dropped off my car with all the parts for my 403 stroker kit. once me and my mechanic started talking i reminded him that the machine shop wanted the flex plate and ud pulley so they could completely balance the engine and my mechanic said why would i need the flex plate to be balanced it doesn't make sense or go anywhere near the motor but 6+ feet back by the rear end and that u normally would balance a flywheel or flex plate but only if it's attached to engine in front. he did say he could be wrong but he explained how it would be pretty hard to balance engine+torque tube+flex plate when it over 10ft in length all attached! Maybe the machine shop thought that i had a manual or forgot that i have a c6 vette?
So does my flex plate have to be balanced when doing this overhaul or does this sound like a mistake on the engine balancing shop not asking enough detailed questions about my car model and trans? If it does have to be balanced how much would it hurt my car if i didn't balance it. also one last thing if it did have to be balanced could i just balance the flex plate later when to put in my yank 3600 and upgrade the tranny or do they have to be done together or would the engine have to come out again for the proper balancing if i waited to do the flex plate balancing?
So does my flex plate have to be balanced when doing this overhaul or does this sound like a mistake on the engine balancing shop not asking enough detailed questions about my car model and trans? If it does have to be balanced how much would it hurt my car if i didn't balance it. also one last thing if it did have to be balanced could i just balance the flex plate later when to put in my yank 3600 and upgrade the tranny or do they have to be done together or would the engine have to come out again for the proper balancing if i waited to do the flex plate balancing?
Last edited by Mattraffai; Sep 3, 2011 at 10:49 AM. Reason: added to questions
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,167
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From: Powell TN
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
The flexplate is located in the rear with the torque converter, but the flywheel is attached to the crank at the back of the motor. Attached is an excerpt from the GM service manual. It says that they are balanced and says "DO NOT" separate, in all caps and red letters. Since you are replacing the crank with a stroker crank, I would have the flywheel balanced to the new crank and mark all the parts so that they get put them back on either end of the prop shaft in the same location as they were removed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Monroe Township New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
St. Jude donor in memory of jpee '14
Normally the flex plate is directly attached to the flywheel on a automatic transmission equipted car. The purpose of the flex plate is so that the torque converter can be attached to the engine.
On a C6, the transmission is in the rear attached by a torque tube. The engine has a flywheel otherwise there would be no place for the starter to engage. (see the teeth on the illustration previously posted) The starter gear engages those teeth when you push the starter button.
On a C6, the transmission is in the rear attached by a torque tube. The engine has a flywheel otherwise there would be no place for the starter to engage. (see the teeth on the illustration previously posted) The starter gear engages those teeth when you push the starter button.
