balancing the rotating parts

Hank Winning · Post by **Hank Winning** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 7:27 pm

Hi gang,
For our winter project I'm into rebuilding a 36hp from the 3 engines that we took apart. We have a good looking set of pistons and cylinders and will get new rings and see how they check out on the old pistons.
I'll send the crank to be polished and then get the bearings.
We got two NOS heads in boxes we will be using- that was a great find

We have a triple beam scale and would like to balance the rods and piston assemblies. Is it OK to weight them out and lighten them to match the lightest by filing on the rods? I have 12 rods to pick over.
Do we find rods that weight the same then get the wrist pin bushing replaced? Or can I just test them by pushing the wrist pin thru with the thumb?

Do we have to send the flywheel and clutch assembly to be balanced.

We need a cam and new lifters any recommendations.
only one of the 3 engine cases looked good the others had white flakey s#!t in the base.

I'd just like to make a smooth 36hp. for our
'57 sedan
thanks
hank

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 7:34 pm

You definately need my balancing service.

see my site under "Our services" and then see "Dynamic balancing"

The rods should be balanced end to end, and the entire rotating mass should be balanced individualy and then assembled..

36HP engines are normally way out of balance, especially that 22 pound flywheel.

------------------
Jake Raby
Raby's Aircooled Technology
www.aircooledtechnology.com

VWJason · Post by **VWJason** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 8:37 pm

You dont need Jakes balancing service, any good shop in your area should be able to offer the service or point you in the direction of a shop that can do it. Now of course if there are no good local shops then yeah send it out somewhere, Jake is really good and so are others.

JC-ATL · Post by **JC-ATL** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 6:07 am

You know, I might actually take issue with the need for Jake's balancing service, and here's why - I have found not one other shop that will do the work as well, and for what you get, the price is competitive.

Having seen Jake's shop, and having him explain his balancing setup to me, has convinced me that if it's worth doing, and he does it, it's worth having him do it.

[This message has been edited by JC-ATL (edited 12-06-2002).]

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 8:11 am

all I balance is VW flat four engines, and there are alot of tricks to getting these engines spot n Vs. another engine.....my balancer is set up just for VWs and I have made jigs for almost everything...

Nope, you don't need what I do, however I just tore back into a 30,000 dollar engine that took a8 months to buuild. It was balanced by another shop and was so far out that it vibrated the left carburetor off on the dyno.

My balancer cost 25,000 bucks, nothing is like it in the vW world, when you get a balance job from me even the pressure plate bolts are indexed to the flywheel, because that can make a big difference!!

Do what you want

------------------
Jake Raby
Raby's Aircooled Technology
www.aircooledtechnology.com

VWJason · Post by **VWJason** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 9:49 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by JC-ATL:
You know, I might actually take issue with the need for Jake's balancing service, and here's why - I have found not one other shop that will do the work as well, and for what you get, the price is competitive.

Having seen Jake's shop, and having him explain his balancing setup to me, has convinced me that if it's worth doing, and he does it, it's worth having him do it.

[This message has been edited by JC-ATL (edited 12-06-2002).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jake isnt the only shop around, I was infering to the original poster to check out his local scene before sending his parts out. By the way, ever hear of VW Performance in Pheonix, no other finer shop anywhere PERIOD!!

Nothing against yah Jake, Im sure you do really good work.

MASSIVE TYPE IV · Post by **MASSIVE TYPE IV** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 10:45 am

I understand, I didn't get offended....All I will say is that most local shops don't do enough VW work to even know where to take/add weight and whether they need bobweights or not....

I would rather just bolt it together without balancing as to let somebody goof it up that works on Chevy's all day.

Hank Winning · Post by **Hank Winning** » Sat Dec 07, 2002 7:35 am

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the input
Jake no doubt you da the man---- that balancing machine sounds real interesting but with the many miles between us and the damn low Canadian dollar I'm going to have to find some body on this side of the frozen line.
We do have a good machine shop where we send the North American engines and Jap marine diesel that does a good job of balancing but they are not into VWs.

Thanx
hank

dana914 · Post by **dana914** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 9:22 am

Hey VWJordan, I live in Phoenix and am looking for a good shop to look at 914 motor. Do you have a phone number or a web site and a contact name there. Thanks for any help.......

dana914 · Post by **dana914** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 9:40 am

Sorry Jason, typed Jordan on accident. Do you have a contact at VW Performance

TWD · Post by **TWD** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 4:02 pm

While I am certain that there may be a number of shops that can balance a VW engine, I have never encountered one that takes the pains to do it as well as Jake does. I just picked up my parts last weekend and can't wait to see how strong it runs. After spending almost twenty minutes showing me exactly what he had done and where the weight had been removed, he told me to call if I had any questions while putting the engine together. That's well beyond normal customer service.

VWJason · Post by **VWJason** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 8:17 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by dana914:
Sorry Jason, typed Jordan on accident. Do you have a contact at VW Performance<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, Im pretty close to the owner, Steve Hollingsworth.

VW Performance: 602-442-8997.

vicsvw · Post by **vicsvw** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 8:45 pm

Sure is strange they ran the way they came from Germany. If I had a gold plating shop I would recomend plating everything.
Balancing really helps when turning over 6000 rpm.

[This message has been edited by vicsvw (edited 12-09-2002).]

Insaino Dwayno · Post by **Insaino Dwayno** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 10:07 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by vicsvw:
Sure is strange they ran the way they came from Germany. If I had a gold plating shop I would recomend plating everything.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Maybe I didn't catch something in the previous messages.... what's this about?

-Dwayne

YoungDub · Post by **YoungDub** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 11:08 pm

Hmm I didn't catch that at first either... Try reading it again lol.

-YoungDub