4g61t.org

As the title states, I would like to balance the piston set/rod set
1- Do I need to remove the pistons from the rods to do this?
2- Once the pistons are ready to be weighed, where do you lighten them? (there is so little material there to begin with)
3- Assuming rods are lightened at the little pad on the bottom

I haven't looked at this topic in quite a while and have lost touch with some of the little intricacies of the trade ( I shouldn't say that lest I be stoned )

Motor is out of the car, cylinders honed and new Hastings rings on the way (Chromoly top ring, cast second flip ring, good oil control rings). Want to do what I can but if I have to separate the pistons and rods there just isn't enough cash left (already on credit for last chunk of the build).

I have already ported the intake to the head, 1.8L TB and the intake to TB plate, lowered the edges surrounding the hardened valve seats and given the head a little working over. Fresh grind on the exhaust valves and seats to top the refresh off. Every other gasket and seal is being changed so I want this things to run just a little better than stock. If you think that balancing the pistons isn't worth my time, just lemme know but if I can do it with some sort of balancing act, I wanna try; afterall it doesn't cost much to remove metal but it does if you break it!

Any comments, but preferably technical, are welcome. Once again thanks to this site and the people who support it. I wouldn't have the heart to do some of the things I do without a network like this.

*bows before the 4g61t.com crew*

Definitely worthwhile so long as you balance the rest of the motor as well.

There's no point just balancing the piston weights unless you also 'neutral' balance the rods, crank, flywheel w/ pressure plate and crank pulley as well.

The crank will have to be balanced by professional machinery no matter what plus you will need to have the pistons removed from the rods before you can safely work on them in which case you might as well just pay someone to do the whole balancing job for you since it isn't all that expensive. I think I paid ~AUS$100 (US$75) to get my 4G15 rotating assy done. Some of the best money I've spent.

Thanks for the reply, I'm glad that you were able to back up what I was thinking that I would inevitably have to do when balancing the assembly. I have officially run out of funding for anything out of the ordinary and this balancing setup although not an 8 cyl. would run me 250-350 CAN to get this done. I have got all of my parts prepped and the crank specs out properly with the new bearings so onto the rods tomorrow. Hopefully I remember to post up that my car is running in the next 4 days.
Tim "Hoping to let his wings open up..." from Ottawa