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View Full Version : Balancing...


Impalaguru
06-14-2004, 10:49 PM
HI Everyone,
I'm in the process of rebuilding the bottom end of the Olds 350 for my 69 Cutlass (not a Chevy but I trust the members here to give me a good response). The Olds 350 is an externally balanced engine, like a 400 SB or a 454 BB!!!. Here is my dilema: The car is currently an automatic, but I want to have a flywheel balanced with the crank so I can install a 4 speed or a 5 speed in the future. My machinist was talking about balancing the crank with the flexplate and with the flywheel. Can this be done succesfully? Would it be a better idea to have the crank internally balanced so that when I remove the flexplate and add the flywheel there isn't a chance of destroying the engine? How much more would it be to have the crank internally balanced? (Mallory metal= big$$$) I went to the trouble of finding a Olds 350 crank that was drilled for a pilot bushing so I would like to be able to make full use of it. Any help would be great!!!
Ross

1959impala
06-17-2004, 11:23 AM
Is there any aftermarket companies making an internally balanced crank for the Olds 350? I know there are some doing that for the sbc400. Only experience I have with the heavy metal is a friend who converted a 400 to internal for racing, BIG $$$, and the engine blew a few races later! I don't see why they couldn't balance both with a flywheel and a flexplate, better to do them both now so you don't have to teardown an engine to switch a tranny.