Balance Shaft Delete Kit?

[TheLion]

Anyone ever try a balance shaft delete kit? Livernois offers one for $44. I'm just wondering how much added crank vibration or coarseness is added by eliminating the balance shafts. Full race also has them. I take it the requirement would be dropping the pan, un-bolting the balance shaft assembly and installing the delete plug / cover and then adding in a little more oil to compensate for the slightly higher volume.

Has anyone done a before and after 1/4 mile run to see if there's any meaningful difference?

Sponsored

 

[5pointOh]

Anyone ever try a balance shaft delete kit? Livernois offers one for $44. I'm just wondering how much added crank vibration or coarseness is added by eliminating the balance shafts. Full race also has them. I take it the requirement would be dropping the pan, un-bolting the balance shaft assembly and installing the delete plug / cover and then adding in a little more oil to compensate for the slightly higher volume.

Has anyone done a before and after 1/4 mile run to see if there's any meaningful difference?

If its anything like the SRT-4 you will get a little bit quicker rev's and might free up 10-15 hp with a slight uptick in NVH but shouldnt be too bad if you are still on the stock motor mounts.

 

[5.0yote]

The ecoboost mustang has vacuum assisted motor mounts, if you look at them directly you can see the air lines from the system, they are actually quite good at dampening, you will barely if at all feel the different.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Is there any "danger" to the balance shaft delete? I mean, isn't it there for a reason?

Please furnish more info about it - thx!!

 

[TheLion]

Is there any "danger" to the balance shaft delete? I mean, isn't it there for a reason?

Please furnish more info about it - thx!!

The balance shaft is a harmonic balancer (basically weighted gear system with an off centered weighted fly wheel). It resonates 180 degrees out of phase with the natural resonance of the engine's crank.

It's ONLY purpose is to make the engine feel smoother. Natural resonance in any engine typically on occurs during a narrow window of RPM, often in the mid range and usually it's not bad, it just feels a bit coarse.

The downside to the harmonic balance is added weight and rotating mass. The engine is rotating more mass so it slows down spool up time. It doesn't reduce power, but does decrease acceleration. But if you do it during an oil change and do the mod yourself, it's a cheap way to possibly gain another 10th or so on the 1/4 mile...not bad for $44.

That's why light weight wheels and tires and also fly wheels increase acceleration, there's less mass for the engine to get rotating. Down side is fuel economy may suffer as that stored up energy acts as a buffer against gusts of wind or other environmental effects which cumulatively decrease fuel efficiency.

Same concept behind ballistics. Heavier projectiles penetrate more deeply even with the same powder charge, because they maintain their energy longer (momentum). However they travel at a slower velocity, so they cover less distance during the same time span as a lighter projectile (aka they will drop more in the same distance due to the lower velocity).

 

[Ron@cp-e]

Anyone ever try a balance shaft delete kit? Livernois offers one for $44. I'm just wondering how much added crank vibration or coarseness is added by eliminating the balance shafts. Full race also has them. I take it the requirement would be dropping the pan, un-bolting the balance shaft assembly and installing the delete plug / cover and then adding in a little more oil to compensate for the slightly higher volume.

Has anyone done a before and after 1/4 mile run to see if there's any meaningful difference?

I have a Livernois kit I won't be using if you want it cheap
PM me if interested

 

[tittermary]

The balance shaft is a harmonic balancer (basically weighted gear system with an off centered weighted fly wheel). It resonates 180 degrees out of phase with the natural resonance of the engine's crank.

It's ONLY purpose is to make the engine feel smoother. Natural resonance in any engine typically on occurs during a narrow window of RPM, often in the mid range and usually it's not bad, it just feels a bit coarse.

The downside to the harmonic balance is added weight and rotating mass. The engine is rotating more mass so it slows down spool up time. It doesn't reduce power, but does decrease acceleration. But if you do it during an oil change and do the mod yourself, it's a cheap way to possibly gain another 10th or so on the 1/4 mile...not bad for $44.

That's why light weight wheels and tires and also fly wheels increase acceleration, there's less mass for the engine to get rotating. Down side is fuel economy may suffer as that stored up energy acts as a buffer against gusts of wind or other environmental effects which cumulatively decrease fuel efficiency.

Same concept behind ballistics. Heavier projectiles penetrate more deeply even with the same powder charge, because they maintain their energy longer (momentum). However they travel at a slower velocity, so they cover less distance during the same time span as a lighter projectile (aka they will drop more in the same distance due to the lower velocity).

good luck doing during an oil change

 

[priestblack]

I've been interested in doing this myself but wouldn't even know where to begin. Is there a guide up anywhere?

 

[K-Roll302]

I too am interested in this, the price is appealing. Since I've already done my oil change for the year, I'll be waiting until the next oil change to do this. But I would very much like to hear some more on this one and the work that goes into installation.

Sponsored