well i finally got my 92 ls in the driveway and i am starting to rip off the head and block, i just had a couple q’s realy quick about some things… first of all i am building for nitrous and this car has 160k on it… i am rebuilding the whole engine bottom to top but i dont really understand this balance and blueprint deal so heres some dumb questions
---- what the **** is it to balance + blueprint?
---- where do i get it done??
---- do i put in the aftermarket parts first then get it done or do it before i swap the parts?
---- how much $$$$$$
---- can acura do this for me
i know some of these are dumb but i am just starting to get into this so please
help me out… thanks… thompson
Searching should turn up some decent answers, but in short, balancing is basically dynamically balancing the reciprocating masses in the engine, so that it can generally rev higher and smoother and causes less stress on bearings and such. Blueprinting is tearing the engine apart and rebuilding it to be the exact specs it was originally supposed to be (sort of reducing the tolerances of the engine to make it perform a bit better). A search should turn up some better responses.
okay thanks for the info i will look into a search more… seems like since i am rebuilding the block with rings pistons etc etc i will only have to worry about the crank being balanced and such…
Yes, balancing is the more important/better of the two. Blueprinting I think is usually only done when some racing rules require the engine to stay close to stock. Blueprinting can add some hp while still technically keeping the engine stock.
okay i see, so blueprinting is not the most important thing to do since i will be a daily driver… also what is micor-polishing? since it looks like i will be rebuilding the block and balncing the crank should i do this at the same time and what excately will this do? thanks so much for the info too!
Blueprinting is the process of shifting tolerance that gives the best power. You want to make sure the machine shop that does the work is reputable and have a good understanding of Honda motors…they typically require less work than domestics…it is often recommended that getting the piston to cylinder wall as well as ring gaps on the tight end of the spec. This will maintain good ring seal and reduce blowby.
Balancing dynamically balances every recipricating/rotating parts within the block, e.g. crank, equalizing the piston weight, flywheel balancing…etc. A few grams out of balance will result in unwanted load else where. Typically, when they balance the crank, the machine shop will drill holes or grind away the counterweights. When balancing the rods, the shop will sand off rod caps and the small wristpin boss.
Micropolishing is merely polishing the journals with microfinishing paper.
Good Luck,
-Jeff C.
okay i see! so in my case is it worth doing? i mean i am only gonna rebuild the motor and slap some nitrous on it, i am not looking for some kinnda world record or anything… also what are the about prices, seems like it would be about 1000 dollars or more right? i have the block and all out of the car so that will save me some labor and i will be putting it back in myself… well thanks for the info again! well appreciated
Even if it’s just a rebuilt
You want to consider how labor intensive it is to pull a motor out of the car. Once you have the parts disassembled, you want to replace EVERYTHING that can be replaced such that if it fails for any reason, you don’t have to pull the motor out again to fix it. If that’s the case, as often is, you want to build it right the first time. With that said, you will be paying a bit more, but down the line you will be thankful you took the extra time and money to do it right the first time. I had mine block blueprinted, balanced, and all parts and labor included, the total came out to ~$800-$900. Make sure you specify you want OEM Honda main bearings, thrust bearings etc. The machine shop typically will not assemble the oil pan, water pump, and oil pump for you. Just make sure when you replace those, don’t skimp out, use Honda Genuine OEM parts.
Good Luck,
-Jeff C.
so just bring it to the shop ( block only? ) and tell them to blueprint and balance and replace all parts with oem honda ones? for 800, sounds cheap i guess, one more question. i have the block out and i am going to do pistons rods, etc. i should throw them in now right? sounds like a dumb question but just double checking! thanks
Take everything with you
Take the entire block, along with the internal parts, to the machine shop. If you’re planning on getting new rods and pistons, then you can throw them away or use as ashtrays…Unless you’re mechanically inclined, have the machine shop do all the machining, which include honing, boring (if necessary), and hot tanking…
-Jeff C.
so your saying just bring my pistons rods etc etc and block to the shop and just say blueprint and balance this and micropolish the crank? then they will take care of the rest? sounds easy enough as long as i am right ??? and what is hot tanking? man i am way off in the block category i am getting a headache learning this stuff! :
Hot tanking
Hot Tanking is the process where the parts, in your case the block and cylinder head is dipped in hot acid to emulsify all the hard, oil, and whatever gunk you have on the part itself. It is like doing laundry for your engine. If you have the block honed or bored, they will always hot tank the parts before final assembly. One last thing, be sure to have the machine shop check the deck of the block…otherwise you will encounter oil leak problems down the road.
Good luck,
-Jeff C.