nazar Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 I bought a 94 lt1 out of a camaro that also came with a 4 speed auto I also then bought a 96 t56 tranny out of a camaro my question is what do i do about the flywheel? I know these cars are externaly balanced and you have to get your new flywheel matched to your old one, but what if i dont have an old flywheel since my car was an auto? How do i balance my billet steel flywheel that i plan on getting to match my rotating assembly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 You don't have to balance the new flywheel to the old one, just get an LT1 T56 flywheel and clutch setup. The counter weight built into it will be the same as the one on the flexplate. If you're really worried about it get the flywheel and clutch and take the entire rotating assembly to a machine shop and have it balanced. I converted from an A4 to a T5 and used a flywheel from a late model externally balanced 305 with a matching clutch and everything works great, no vibrations at all. Just make sure to get new flywheel bolts instead of using the old flexplate bolts. The flywheel bolts are slightly longer. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazar Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 You don't have to balance the new flywheel to the old one' date=' just get an LT1 T56 flywheel and clutch setup. The counter weight built into it will be the same as the one on the flexplate. If you're really worried about it get the flywheel and clutch and take the entire rotating assembly to a machine shop and have it balanced. I converted from an A4 to a T5 and used a flywheel from a late model externally balanced 305 with a matching clutch and everything works great, no vibrations at all. Just make sure to get new flywheel bolts instead of using the old flexplate bolts. The flywheel bolts are slightly longer. Wheelman[/quote'] that is if i get a stock flywheel, but what if i get an aftermarket billet steel flywheel, people say when putting an aftermarket flywheel you have to match it to your stock flywheel, but i dont have a stock flywheel to begin with, so then what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Dude did you read what I said? Take the whole rotating assembly to a machine shop and have it balanced. If you can't afford to do that then get a stock flywheel and forget the fancy billet one. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazar Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 sorry, yea i did Takin it all apart is too much work for me, it kinda sux thats the only way to do it, doesnt make much sense. I'd really like a lighter flywheel for the revs and roadracing. Heres a question, are all lt1 flywheels balanced the same? Meaning can i just borrow an lt1 6 speed flywheel, then take my billet one, and get them matched??? Even though the flywheel wasnt specific to my engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Yeah that will get you close but not perfect like balancing the whole assembley together. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno74Z Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 nazar LT1 are externally balanced engines. To my knowledge ANY OEM GM made flywheel for the LT1 should work with your engine just fine. GM did not balance every individual flywheel for each specific engine. This would take way too long to do when you’re mass producing engines. My guess is and this is my opinion is that they did some basic analysis and said we know 99% of the engines need 1 OZ on the flywheel in this location. If you flip over a stock LT1 flywheel you will see a counterweight bolted to it (it has been a while since I looked at mine). I really don't think GM put individual weights on every single engine. That would take forever to do. From the sounds of it, your LT1 engine has been modified by the previous owner. Are you sure the bottom end was not balanced. Usually, when you rebuild an engine, most people will have it balanced. If this is the case then you have a balanced (internal) assembly. You will need a neutral balanced flywheel and clutch assembly. This is much more accurate then what GM does at the factory. Wheelman You said: I converted from an A4 to a T5 and used a flywheel from a late model externally balanced 305 with a matching clutch and everything works great, no vibrations at all. Can you be more specific? 153 or 168 teeth? Did this come off a 3gen Camaro? Did it just bolt right up or did you have to machine it? Thanks Danno74Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Danno74z, The flywheel was a brand new 153 tooth unit made to work with a 305 that has a 1 piece rear main seal (86 and later). These engines, along with the 350 from the same years I believe, are externally balanced just like the LT1. I was able to take it right out of it's shipping box and bolt it up. No machining of any kind was done to balance it to my engine. Before I did this I talked to the manufacturer (McCloud I think, not sure as it's been a while since I bought it) who told me it was direct a bolt on and was balanced correctly. It is also only 16lbs which makes for quick revs. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazar Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 yes the bottom end was rebuilt previously, but i have no idea of knowing any facts. I do see that it has 30 over pistons, the cylinders have been bored and honed(looks nice, still see the cross hash marks), looks to have new rods, but again, i dont know if it was balanced My best guess is to just get a billet steel flywheel, neutral as they all come, and put it on, see how it is, if it throws it off, i will then try to match it to a stock flywheel and see if that helps, but i hope it works on the first try... Would there be any possible way of figuring out if the rotating assembly was balanced? I guess the only way to do it would be to take out the rods, pistons, crank, and flywheel and balancer and take it to a shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Does the flexplate have a chunk of metal welded to the back side of it close to the ring gear? If it does this is the counter weight put in place by the factory, this would indicate the engine was not balanced. If it isn't there then there's a good chance the engine was balanced and your billet flywheel will work. Good luck. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazar Posted January 20, 2006 Author Share Posted January 20, 2006 lol, smart, i dont know why i didnt think of that, i wiill check today, since i do have the flexplate Thanks...If not, I'll just find a factory flywheel and balance my billet one to match, i really want a lighter flywheel(but not aluminum) to get this things revs to match its looks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno74Z Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Wheelman, Thanks for the information on the flywheel. How do you like your lt1 with the Hot cam? Danno74z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Danno74Z, I like it alot. It has just a hint of a lope and makes good power all the way from 1500 RPM to 5500 or so, although its a bit hard to tell in these light cars. I set the rev limit at 6300 after putting in stiff valve springs but have not taken it that high yet, by the time I get to 5800 in a gear where you can tell a difference in power levels it's going fast enough to get scary. I want to get it on a dyno at some point to get a better picture of whats it's really doing but there aren't any local to me. The light flywheel means it revs in a heart beat which takes some getting used to when launching and shifting gears. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno74Z Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Wheelman, That sounds fantastic:)!!!!! Did you put the cam in yourself? I like to send you an email tonight if that is OK. Danno74Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 I've got the LT4 Hotcam kit in my LT1 too. I like it but I think Im going to go a little bigger and more specific to my heads flow charactistics if I dont get the results I want at the track(1/4 mile). Im hoping for low 12's with drag radials. The LT4 HC is a good street cam. A lot of guys knock it because its not big enough but if you want a little more power and a good idle this is the cam. Plus its pretty cheap! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazar Posted January 21, 2006 Author Share Posted January 21, 2006 i am almost certain my engine has a hotcam package in it as it has the hotcam roller rockers and springs in it, i assume its got the cam, I originaly wanted to 230-236 comp cam cam cause I like the agressiveness and topend, but if its already in there, the hotcam will do for now to break everything in and tune it. Should be around 300whp, more than enough. Just recieved my q45 diff today, took it apart prepped and painted the body black, and the cover aluminum color, looks soo nice...im excited BTW, this thing is HUGEEEE beeeefyy and heavy...Should hold everything I throw at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 Danno74Z, Yes I installed the cam myself and did the valve springs at the same time, but I kept the stock rockers. The LT1 I have came from a Caprice cop car so it has the iron heads which are supposed to flow about 20% better than the aluminum ones. Feel free to email or PM me with whatever questions you have. Edit: BTW Nazar don't assume the cam is a hot cam just because the rockers are rollers. To be sure you either need to pull it and look for part numbers or measure the lift and duration. What car did the engine come out of? F-Body or Vette. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazar Posted January 21, 2006 Author Share Posted January 21, 2006 QUOTE=wheelman]Danno74Z, Yes I installed the cam myself and did the valve springs at the same time, but I kept the stock rockers. The LT1 I have came from a noCaprice cop car so it has the iron heads which are supposed to flow about 20% better than the aluminum ones. Feel free to email or PM me with whatever questions you have. Edit: BTW Nazar don't assume the cam is a hot cam just because the rockers are rollers. To be sure you either need to pull it and look for part numbers or measure the lift and duration. What car did the engine come out of? F-Body or Vette. Wheelman yes but notice i also said it had the lt4 package valve springs(green stripe) so if the guy had lt4 gm rollers and lt4 valve springs that come in the hotcam kit, i assume he has a hotcam in it...we'll see when it fires up Just installed the electric csr water pump, but its got me worried A buddy of mine had one and the impeller came off, seems as if its threaded on counterclockwise and it spins clockwise and it came loose....stupid design if you ask me...they say they are suposed to be threadlocked, but that cant be enough to keep it from coming loose...wtf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nazar Posted January 23, 2006 Author Share Posted January 23, 2006 So I called spec about their billet steet flywheel, and they say that their lt1 flywheel already comes with a weight attached to it for balancing to match the factory specifications I guess Does this sound correct? He says it should be a bolt on deal, no need to balance it because it already has a weight tied to it. If so, I'll just order it, they have a 15% sale now and I like that fact that its still steel but is also lighter, i dont like aluminum flywheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 If it's an LT1 specific part then it should have the correct counterweight already mounted. BTW: How much are you paying that "billet" flywheel? Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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