Neutrally balanced

[69clone]

Quick question just ordered a custom converter for my 440 they asked if it was neutrally balanced? I assumed that is the same as internally balanced? I hesitated to answer and he said is it a steel crank? I said yes. Just curious had me worried now

 

[Budnicks]

Yep your assumptions are mostly right

some converters need a little weight to make them balanced for your specific combo, but internally balanced is pretty much the same as a neutral balance...

if that makes any sense ?

 

[69clone]

Thanks budnick. I only knew of internally and externally. So will it make a difference as far as having those weights or not? I called them back after posting and told them I thought it was internally balanced (not sure paper work doesn't say is there any way to tell with the engine together?) but it has a forged steel crank. I probably made it worst they knew what they were doing

 

[Glenwood]

I thought the external weights on converters were only for externally balanced cast cranks. I read somewhere that if used with an internally balanced forged crank, you have to pop the weights off or you'll get vibration at a certain rpm range. I've never heard of 'neutrally balanced' converters.

 

[69clone]

That was my understanding as well... The cast cranks were externally balanced and steel was internal. I looked on eagles website and they said their cranks are designed to be internally balanced. It was also my understanding that there should be weights on my harmonic balancer and flex plate if it wasn't internally balanced but there's no weights so I'm pretty sure you are correct glenwood.

 

[69clone]

So correct me if I'm wrong but this looks to be internally balanced? I don't see any weights?

 

[Glenwood]

I've never heard of a flex plate having weights. I can't tell if the balancer is externally balanced or not from this pic. The balancer for cast cranks I've seen look wider than the one in your pic.

 

[Dennis H]

Nothing worse than dealing with a business who uses terms that are not real, or try to impress with baloney.
I don't.

 

[69clone]

I've never heard of a flex plate having weights. I can't tell if the balancer is externally balanced or not from this pic. The balancer for cast cranks I've seen look wider than the one in your pic.

I seen a few that had weights on them online. The rest seemed to have a portion removed from the flex plate. Think I should pop it off and get a good picture of the front and back?
Edit: pulled the pulley off and took this i don't know if that helps I didnt feel like taking it off tonight... couldn't find the right tools . But there isn't anything on the back that stands out. its symmetrical from what I can see and feel. There was a couple numbers stamped on the side but came up empty on Google. SFI SPEC 18.1 A299355.


Dennis it definitely threw me off. Had never heard of it but after spending some time on Google it seems to be used a bit. I thought it was mopar lingo but I see guys on the ford and Chevy forums using it...

 

[bm02tj]

I've never heard of a flex plate having weights. I can't tell if the balancer is externally balanced or not from this pic. The balancer for cast cranks I've seen look wider than the one in your pic.

B&M make them for external balance to use zero balance torque converter

 

[cdr]

what you ordered should be correct,, BUT, 1970 & up 440 -6 & most 440 hp had steel cranks but where external balance, they had the wide sixpack heavy rods in them.

 

[wannadrag]

If i were the OP I would throw that factory flexplate in the trash and buy a good one SFI approved from B&M

 

[Glenwood]

If i were the OP I would throw that factory flexplate in the trash and buy a good one SFI approved from B&M

just wondering why? What's wrong with the oem plate?

 

[69clone]

Thanks for reassuring me I got it right.
I bought the motor second hand but the flex plate has a SFI cert on it. What's wrong with it? Is the b&m round and not x shaped? Is that better?

 

[cdr]

if thats the sfi one , you should be ok.

 

[Budnicks]

Mopar BB Internal balance with a 6 bolt crank with multiple different converter bolt patterns, this a B&M SFI cert. in this photo

 

[69Bee]

Your mixing terms. If an engine is internally balanced, then the balancer and flywheel/torque converter are "Neutral Balanced". This means that when they are spun, there will not be any appreciable out of balance condition. When a motor is externally balanced, the balancer and flywheel/torque converter has a specific "Out of Balance" or "Imbalanced" condition. The corresponding parts will have an out of balance in order to balance the internal components because they are so heavy. The term "Neutral Balance" refers to the condition of the balancer/flywheel/torque converter, and not the internal condition of the motor. I hope this clears up the misunderstanding.

As far as the "Gee Whiz" B&M flexplate goes, I see no real reason not to use the original unit unless you are racing it. Note that if the plate has the weight on it for an externally balanced motor, you will need to use the internally balanced motor "Neutral Balanced" torque converter.

 

[cdr]

What Budnicks wrote is correct, it has already been clarified that neutral balance is for an internal balance.