TheSamba.com :: View topic - What part? or parts are not Original too this 1970 B case ?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:11 pm

Well I just had to chime in

Once I didn't have a 302 balanced,, just balanced the parts --- they wanted an extra $100

the thing had a harmonic vibration at about 1200 then 4200 -
Junk !
I think that the success of a motor really is in the balancing.

I have not read the other postings within the thread,,

Now what did VW do on this order in like 1970 ?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:23 pm

Eric do you notice a difference in the machinist balance motor as opposed to the factory balance? I have a motor to rebuild and having it balanced is priority 1 a balanced motor can be a huge improvement if the factory just slapped it together.

I had two stock motors balance an Olds 350 which seemed better but not significantly better and also a Dodge 440 , the Dodge after balancing was a huge improvement across the power band better idle faster revs , hope to see the same in the VW.....

Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:14 am

Heck, even with a non-counterweighted stock crank such as the old 64mm one that's in my 40HP, when I balanced the rods and pistons down to a gram I noticed the "feel" of the powertrain was smoother than on previous engines where I never got anywhere close to that balance. And the counterweighted 1600DP engine I built for my Baja bug, it was so much smoother than the previous engine that not too long after building it I found myself on a noisy dirt road going like 60-65 MPH for many miles before I noticed I was still in 3rd gear, it was so smooth that I just didn't feel like it was time to shift. So yes, in my opinion it's something that is noticable. What was stock for rod variance, like 10 grams...? way too much.

-Andy

Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:00 am

glutamodo wrote: Heck, even with a non-counterweighted stock crank such as the old 64mm one that's in my 40HP, when I balanced the rods and pistons down to a gram I noticed the "feel" of the powertrain was smoother than on previous engines where I never got anywhere close to that balance. And the counterweighted 1600DP engine I built for my Baja bug, it was so much smoother than the previous engine that not too long after building it I found myself on a noisy dirt road going like 60-65 MPH for many miles before I noticed I was still in 3rd gear, it was so smooth that I just didn't feel like it was time to shift. So yes, in my opinion it's something that is noticable. What was stock for rod variance, like 10 grams...? way too much.

-Andy

Ah good post 8) and now a newbie question :? , how does one recognize a counter weighted DP motor over a non counter weighted DP motor?

Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:19 am

Well, it's not something that VW ever put in stock - it's aftermarket parts, and without tearing into the engine you can't tell unless you have a build sheet for the engine. You don't have to completely split the block though, you can pull a cylinder off and look in the case and see ifs got counterweights. Cranks with counterweights have, well, sort of "ears" that extend down way past the rod throws. Now, finding 1200 (64mm) cranks with counterweights is very rare. 1300-1600 69mm and longer stroke cranks with counterweights are much easier to come by. Here, on top is a stock uncounterweighted crank, the bottom image, I borrowed from an ad in the classifieds, shows the counterweights:

-Andy

Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:15 pm

Andy you have good info 8) 8) ...... I was think there was a stock VW counter weighted crank and hoped to have one in my spare soon to be rebuilt motor, but I get it now too bad its after market cause I am going stock bottom end, with bigger bore, full balance and a single carb...

Thanks 8)