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Just wondering if I will run into any durability issues by deleting my balance shaft. Or disabling it by removing the gears and leaving it in the motor. I still daily drive the car during the summer, but my cam requires a double roller chain, so a balance shaft delete is necessary. Should I be worried about premature failure due to bearing wear from the vibrations or anything shaking itself apart? How long have some of you guys that have done this mod run with no issues?
The balance shaft has nothing to do with the balance of the rotational parts. Its there to reduce vibration at lower rpm as more of a creature comfort. If I remember right they actually hurt performance and durability at higher rpm.
The balance shaft has nothing to do with the balance of the rotational parts. Its there to reduce vibration at lower rpm as more of a creature comfort. If I remember right they actually hurt performance and durability at higher rpm.
You would be correct. If you plan on building an engine to rev to or over 6k then disabling/deleting the balance shaft is necessary. Removing it is more work, but you stand to drop 5lbs out of the front end doing it. The easiest way to achieve the necessary clearance for the double roller is to pick up a milled oil pump cover from zzperformance. Just the fact that you need the double roller tells me your going to be running a heavy valve spring that's only needed for a high lift cam that will be at home in the high rpms.
So what's considered high lift for these motors... 510ish?
IMO .530 and above. At .510 I would still consider it a mild cam on this engine since you can still safely use the stock valve springs, unless your planning on consistent high rpm use. Once you get up around .550 I would consider that radical since you are faced with the decision of 130# or 150# depending on what your setup and driving habits are.
IMO .530 and above. At .510 I would still consider it a mild cam on this engine since you can still safely use the stock valve springs, unless your planning on consistent high rpm use. Once you get up around .550 I would consider that radical since you are faced with the decision of 130# or 150# depending on what your setup and driving habits are.
And what exactly would you do to get rid of the balance shaft? Is it the one that sits in the middle of the intake valley, and runs off the timing chain?
Yea, that's the balance shaft. We ended up leaving it in the motor, just disabled it by removing the drive gears for it. My concern was the motor shaking itself to pieces at idle and low rpm since it will still spend a lot of time there. I still plan to daily drive it during the summer months.
Yea, that's the balance shaft. We ended up leaving it in the motor, just disabled it by removing the drive gears for it. My concern was the motor shaking itself to pieces at idle and low rpm since it will still spend a lot of time there. I still plan to daily drive it during the summer months.
Getting or making solid motor mounts will help with the vibration of the engine by distributing it throughout the car, but it'll be a helluva rattle.
1995 Pontiac Firebird
2008 Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4x4
The balance shaft has nothing to do with the balance of the rotational parts. Its there to reduce vibration at lower rpm as more of a creature comfort. If I remember right they actually hurt performance and durability at higher rpm.
It has everything to do with the balance of the pistons, as their weight is unevenly distributed during full revolution. The 90 degree design of the engine, as well as the firing order design and rotational order of the crank, tends to rock it back and forth within its own cradle towards the top end of the engine, which creates the vibration. And because the motor mounts aren't solid, theres nothing to really absorb those vibrations. Hence the use of the balance shaft. Its used as a deadweight to counteract the weight of the pistons at TDC during a full revolution.
But yes, at high RPMs they're more of a nuisance than anything, and by no means is it a necessity.
1995 Pontiac Firebird
2008 Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4x4
*The counterbalance shaft has nothing to do with the balance of the engine. It is not figured into the balance of the rotating/reciprocating parts of the engine. It is used to remove vibration at lower engine speeds which are inherent to the 90 deg V6 design. Once an aftermarket cam has been installed, the balance shaft is actually counter productive. It doesn’t help with idle vibration and it can cause vibration issues at higher RPM reducing engine life and HP.
Haha with my idle timing setting, the cam that I'm running paired with poly engine/trans mounts and no balance shaft, my car rocks back and forth a little bit at a stoplight. My dad thinks it's awesome.
*The counterbalance shaft has nothing to do with the balance of the engine. It is not figured into the balance of the rotating/reciprocating parts of the engine. It is used to remove vibration at lower engine speeds which are inherent to the 90 deg V6 design. Once an aftermarket cam has been installed, the balance shaft is actually counter productive. It doesn’t help with idle vibration and it can cause vibration issues at higher RPM reducing engine life and HP.
Straight from the zzp website..
Jesus christ, seriously?? No, its not factored into the balance of the ROTATING ASSEMBLY, its factored into the weight of the pistons and their physical distance from the center of the crankshaft. BECAUSE of the 90 degree V6 design, it slings that weight high off center of the crank, and throws that weight in an odd direction, whether it be passenger or drivers side of the engine. The balance shaft moves a little weight to the opposite side of the side with two pistons closer to TDC. Thats why it looks like a funny chunk of metal spinning around. Its a weight to counteract the side with two pistons closer to TDC, thats pretty much it. It has NOTHING to do with the balance of the rotation assembly. Its two different uses of the word "balance".
1995 Pontiac Firebird
2008 Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4x4
Jesus christ, seriously?? No, its not factored into the balance of the ROTATING ASSEMBLY, its factored into the weight of the pistons and their physical distance from the center of the crankshaft. BECAUSE of the 90 degree V6 design, it slings that weight high off center of the crank, and throws that weight in an odd direction, whether it be passenger or drivers side of the engine. The balance shaft moves a little weight to the opposite side of the side with two pistons closer to TDC. Thats why it looks like a funny chunk of metal spinning around. Its a weight to counteract the side with two pistons closer to TDC, thats pretty much it. It has NOTHING to do with the balance of the rotation assembly. Its two different uses of the word "balance".
Well im just trying to get across the fact that its not going to vibrate itself apart as everyone with no knowledge of v6s thinks. I've heard it from atleast 4 older car guys at my work "go with a v8, that v6 will vibrate itself apart" and what you're saying sounds exactly like it will vibrate itself to death.
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