Will be taking stuff down to get balanced tomorrow due to mixing up pistons. Is this really crucial when one removes pistons and gets them mixed up (I am sure I am not the only one to do this) How balanced are these motors to begin with? Just not sure if it is worth the $150.00 extra to get it done.

 

let me add that I am not racing this car, just a cruiser looking for longevity of the motor, that's about it.

 

if you mixed up the pistons then the piston to wall clearance needs to be measured.

 

I guess I could have them check this also. The block was honed by another machine shop, not sure if they did this there. On second thought, I guess maybe investing in a bore gauge would come out to the same $ that they would charge to do this for me.

Modified by dgie at 11:21 PM 7/6/2008


Modified by dgie at 11:30 PM 7/6/2008

 

some say it isnt really neededwith hondas while others say its important..heres a good thread on balancing the rotating assembaly https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1532233

 

wow everyone has an opinion after reading all that. I think I am no further now then before. Thanks for the thread though makes for fun reading. Back to the subject of balancing.....Am I the only one in history of tearing down a Honda motor and mix up pistons? has anyone ever done this and thrown it back together? if so did it run ok? If Honda balances these things, why would one have to do it again just for mixing up pistons? If it is really not necessary and just an opinion than I think I would rather spend the $150.00 on a tank of gas.

 

What is really important here in getting this motor running? good bearings, good rings, new head gasket and I can understand the need to check piston to wall clearance. Anything else? keep in mind this is a every day cruiser not a red line rider.

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dgie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">let me add that I am not racing this car, just a cruiser looking for longevity of the motor, that's about it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then get it balanced.
An unbalanced bottom end may work for several hundred and perhaps even several thousand miles. But are you really willing to cheap out $150, to risk the longevity of your motor and the money you spent on the rebuild? Much better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.

 

imo, the balancing is the least of your problems with getting pistons mixed up.

 

After calling around, I think I am going to skip the balancing. I took the motor to the machine shop today and had them check clearances. I checked more then one source telling them about the piston mix up. Most feel that balancing is not really an issue since the car is not used for racing etc. If balancing is the least of my problems then what is the most????

 

if the machine shop says the piston to wall clearance meets the correct specifications then you have nothing to worry about.

 

I am taking it to another machine shop tomorrow to get a second opinion. Also to have them look at the rods to make sure that I did not mix up the rod caps, which I think did not happen, I hope did not happen. Well after this build I should be ready to build any motor out there, any one need engine work done? I am debating on offering 1/2 mile warranty or 3 minutes of running on work done

 

Now for my Plymouth 400 in my Satellite, I was told I may have a rod knock, since I forgot to prime the oil pump before initial start up, thats another story though, that motor only cost $3200.00 to get rebuilt.......


Modified by dgie at 4:08 PM 7/7/2008