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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: Lit549 on April 07, 2013, 12:12:44 pm

Title: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 07, 2013, 12:12:44 pm
Well,my 85 c10 has a vibration.Its driving me nuts.Its dropped with 4.5/6 McGauhey kit.Installed 4deg shims to match (but opposit) pinion with trans.When im in neutral i rev it to around 2000 rpm and i can feel the vibration coming in and out.Checked motor mounts and theyre good.I did have heck getting the rings to seat,one still may not be seated good idk? They are iron rings.Motor has 6k miles,trans is new rebuilt,driveline balanced..Any suggestions?? Also has all new tires,just put 255/60/ fronts and the header scrapes ground now,long tubes..New lockup converter too..
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: gildardo01 on April 07, 2013, 02:17:48 pm
maybe its misfiring or something... just a thought...
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 07, 2013, 02:44:02 pm
Ya,that may be it.I bought this engine, installed it and rings would not seat in 6k miles.Pulled it out tore it down and hit cylinders with hone,put back with steel rings..Runs alot better,lot less oil usage;but plugs are still a little dirty..
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: gildardo01 on April 07, 2013, 08:28:43 pm
when it was put together you did make sure that the ring gaps were on opposite side right? and on their correct side... 
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 08, 2013, 12:21:46 am
Well,my mechanic friend went back with it so im not sure..I was at work..It sure is frustrating though..
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Blazin on April 08, 2013, 06:51:40 am
Harmonic balancer? Torque converter out of balance?
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: bobcooter on April 08, 2013, 10:19:58 pm
Harmonic balancer? Torque converter out of balance?
X2 on these things. Check the fan clutch also.
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: gildardo01 on April 08, 2013, 11:00:07 pm
Harmonic balancer? Torque converter out of balance?
X2 on these things. Check the fan clutch also.
just curious what makes a torque converter get out of balance? is it common for them to be bad right out of the box? by the way i was thinking maybe the wrong flexplate or balancer was put on... for example if the crank is internally balance and the harmonic or flexplate was for a external balance crank....
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Irish_Alley on April 09, 2013, 06:37:31 pm
correct me if im wrong but the 400 is internal balanced while the 350 is external miss matching parts will do this also
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 11, 2013, 02:38:32 am
 Well,check balancer and looks fine.It was new with rebuild,also converter bolts are all tight.Check all plugs and its hitting fine..Also checked flywheel for cracks and it was fine..Only thing im thinking is maybe fanclutch..As long as ive known the truck(about 20yrs) i really dont think its ever been changed.I can watch pulleys and belts (and fan hub) and everything looks straight.If fan clutch was culprit,would there be any obvious wobbling??
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: bobcooter on April 11, 2013, 09:19:22 pm
You probably can't see one wobble. It's just a thought. The way to check it is; with the engine off reach in a grab a fan blade and try to give it a good spin. If the blades barely rotate, it's good. If the fan free wheels around then your clutch is bad. It should be pretty stiff and the blades barely move  when you try to spin it.
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 14, 2013, 12:55:50 am
Guess im gonna replace the fan clutch tomorrow and see what that does.Been trying to hold off to do a electric fan setup..Guess we'll see.
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 14, 2013, 05:11:50 pm
Done the fan clutch and still has the vibration..
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: bobcooter on April 14, 2013, 07:54:34 pm
Sorry...  :-\
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: gildardo01 on April 14, 2013, 10:39:53 pm
are you sure the balancer was for the crank you currently have?
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 15, 2013, 12:21:34 am
Hmm,well i know i boight it for a 96 vortech if i remembet correctly.Its been awhile..Im seriously thinking aboit a fluiddampner..May help? Im frustrated,maybe its just bad harmonics?
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 23, 2013, 04:18:28 pm
are you sure the balancer was for the crank you currently have?
Ya its 86 and newer one piece main flywheel,balancer is professional products 8" balancer..Its not misfirng and i took all belts(and balancer hub) off and it still vibrates..Maybe its just bad harmonics? piece of crap balancer? When the trans was built, maybe they didnt clock flywheel right? Im frustrated!
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: bd on April 24, 2013, 01:42:25 am
Vibrations can be a real nuisance, not to mention destructive.  You've mentioned an 85, 86 and 96 Vortech.  Which is it?  Does it have a stock rotating assembly?  Stock one-piece-seal SB cranks use a neutral balancer and counterweighted flexplate.  Many aftermarket forged cranks are neutral/neutral.  Do you know the build details of the motor you purchased?  Have you spoken with the builder?

The flexplate will attach to the crankshaft only one way - 'clocking' isn't an issue.  Did you unbolt the converter and slide it back away from the flexplate to isolate the motor from the rest of the powertrain?

Fluidampr is an excellent product.  Though, Streetdampr is better suited for street use and more affordable.  Still, both are pricey.  Yet, neither will solve an imbalance caused by a flexplate or converter, or that results from an unbalanced rotating assembly.  And, realistically, your not likely feeling harmonic vibration at only 2 grand. 

Look at the balancer currently on the engine.  Does it look asymmetric (more heavily weighted on one side)?  Inspect the flexplate for counterweights.  Unbolt the converter and slide it away from the flexplate.  Then talk with the engine builder. 
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 24, 2013, 02:08:38 am
Well its 85 c10,96 vortech 350..85 350c trans,lockup converter..Thats the only thing i havent done is slide the converter back..I helped on and off when we built it..Its all stock assembly accept a zz4 cam,with the comp beehive springs and lifters..Assembly wasnt balanced the flexplate is correct as is the balancer..At highway speeds its smooth at 70..At 45-50 its vibrating in and out,i can put it in neutral@ 45-50 and the vibration stops..I can rev it (while coasting) and when engine comes down off rev it vibrates..Or hold throttle @1300-1500 rpm(while coasting) it vibrates..Its def in engine not driveline..Feustrating as heck..thanks for the help..
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 26, 2013, 12:08:52 am
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=9MWvuaKNUFY
Well heres a video of the flywheel. I think ive narrowed down my vibration to the flywheel..I seperated the converter and there was still the same vibration..I filmed it hooked up and unhooked...Its not the converter.  Need some opinions,would you change this flexplate? I have vibtation in neutral,it is in the engine for sure..Looks pretty bent to me? ..thanks
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: VileZambonie on April 27, 2013, 01:41:45 pm
No, I would fix the misfire you have. Find out which cylinder is misfiring. Use a pair of insulated pliers and one by one isolate which cylinder isn't contributing.
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 27, 2013, 02:52:00 pm
Ya,i checked all wires for resistance=all good..Cap -rotor -coil all good..And all new plugs,it had a plug that i had just cracked the porcelin right before this and it was missing,i fixed that.I found that some of them have a little oil on threads though.Engne only has about 5k miles..Vibration is there no matter what i do..
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: VileZambonie on April 28, 2013, 07:40:12 pm
Make sure you don't have #5 and #7 wires crossed.

1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on April 29, 2013, 12:35:06 am
#5+#7 are correct..Think im about to just change it,better safe then sorry i guess.Im sure gonna be mad if it not the source of vibration! Hahahaha
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Irish_Alley on April 29, 2013, 02:08:03 am
ok for one you have 2 different topics for the same problem throwing parts at her now you want  to throw another part at her. i cant watch the video but knowing vile from here if he says he sees a miss i would bet anything hes right. i would recheck everything before you throw anymore parts at it. oil on the threads is probably from leaky valve cover gaskets unless your electrode is some non normal color than i wouldn't worry about them but make sure they all are firing (all electrodes about the same color). one way is when the engine is cold you first start it up touch each exhaust manifold if you dont have one of those fancy laser temperature readers. but make it quick cause it will warm up fast see which one stays cooler than the rest.
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on May 05, 2013, 11:01:43 am
Well,i changed the flexplate and the vibration is still there! Changed motor mounts, still there.All thats left is the balancer and it looks fine but guess im gonna have to change it just so ill know..Gonna check exhaust for anything touching or something stupid like that..Maybe its just in the internals which isnt good,im def investing in balancing everything next time!
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: VileZambonie on May 05, 2013, 06:19:01 pm
correct me if im wrong but the 400 is internal balanced while the 350 is external miss matching parts will do this also

You have this backwards.

Ensure your firing on all cylinders, do a power balance test.

Isolate other componenets, make sure the exhaust isn't rubbing.
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Irish_Alley on May 09, 2013, 03:23:21 pm
thanks vile knew one was different than the other but couldn't remember which one was what
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on May 15, 2013, 05:35:34 pm
Well found it! I was tired of this exhaust sounding like glass packs a few mnths back and cut exhaust off behind the mufflers,well i re welded them back on today hoping that this would be it(last ditch effort)..And there ya go,no vibration..I wouldve prob noticed this if i drove it everyday at the time,but it always sat till my mx accident and now i drive it daily..Soo,guess im a idiot or sure feel like one..Ive replaced flexplate,fanclutch,motor mounts,and fixed my lean ass eddy carb..So all in all everything needed replaced anyway so i guess no harm,just a bunch of stress worrying that it was the engine..Lesson learned!! Thanks for everybodies help!!
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Engineer on May 15, 2013, 07:04:28 pm
correct me if im wrong but the 400 is internal balanced while the 350 is external miss matching parts will do this also

Irish you are close..... The 400SB is external balanced, the 350 and all other small blocks are internally balanced.
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: Lit549 on May 16, 2013, 09:42:42 am
Actually the vortech 96-99 (i think) ,is externally balance on the flexplate and neutral on the balancwr..I freaked when i seen the weight on the flexplate,something to do with the one piece seal and the extra counterbalance thats not there on the end of this crank cause of seal..
Title: Re: Vibrations
Post by: bd on May 16, 2013, 11:12:50 am
Factory one-piece rear main seal SBs are neutral balancer/counterweighted flexplate.  Many aftermarket cranks are neutral/neutral.