When i went in to the machinist today I told him I would need my assembly balanced he said okay. I got a few questions for you people before i give the go ahead? We are internally balanced correct? Whats dynmanic balancing? Also he said he does not main bore align and hone so where can I get this done? and how much does this usually run?

 

LT1 is neutral balanced on the front and externally balanced at the rear.

 

What do you mean he doesn't align bore and hone???? What kinda machine shop is this? First thing you gotta do is go to another machine shop.

 

Usually runs about $125.....if he's any kind of an engine machine shop he should have the equipment to line bore and hone ....anyway just find a shop that can do it for you. If he hasnt started the work I would find a shop that can do it all.

 

Its a local guy and, yea right now I am looking for a new machinist because he wouldnt 1)clearnace for stroker 2)splay mains3)align bores. Also if i get the main bores aligned and honed will i need different bearing other than standard. somethin with a larger o.d.

Edit: I also said I wanted the the cylinder bores 400 grit fine honed and he wouldnt dues it which pissed me off. I dont get my block till after christmas but i am lookin for someone to do the work on it so I stoped in at his shop since he is a block away from my house. I dont think I will be going to his shop, I guess I will have to drive a little farther.

 

Yes once its line bored and hone a different bearing is used.....My machinist took care of all of that....he used Clevite 77 H series but I dont know all the machining details. I do know he platue honed the cylinders which speeds up the seating of the rings.

If the guy cant do the things you said he cant deffinently find another shop.

I would also recommend getting the book :
"How to Rebiuld Small-Block Chevy LT1/LT4 Engines"
It helped me alot along with the GM shop manual.

Good Luck

 

There are two basic choices wrt balancing. You can have the rotating assy completely or partialy internally balanced. The stock OEM LT1 is partially balanced internally - it is balanced to a standard external counterweight. IOW, each motor is not individually balanced. You can have this reproduced which allows you to use stock (or stock counterweighted) flywheel/flexplates. This is less expensive than having it fully internally balanced. The internal balance requires addition of "Mallory" metal, a very heavy material which is inserted into holes drilled in the crank counterweights. This can be quite expensive depending on the combination of parts. My new assy cost over $400 to balance because it needed 4 pieces of Mallory to offset the heavy duty "blower" pistons. Internal balance probably puts less stress on the crank, though except for extreme uses this is not very important. It allows the use of any neutral balance flywheel/flexplate though, which is a convenience.

Rich Krause