I have a 5.0 shortblock at the machine shop right now, waiting on my okay to proceed with some work.

I'm having the block bored, honed, and cleaned. I'm replacing the piston rods and pistons with new forged components. I still have to decide on a cam and heads to use, but those will be new as well. I'd like to get 300hp out of the motor and be able to run power brakes, but otherwise would like the cam as aggressive as possible, but street-able.

The shop I'm working with has recommended that I grind and polish the existing stock 2MAE (cast) crankshaft and reuse it. They want $175 for the grind/polish work. They are also suggesting that I balance the rotating assembly, and want $300 for that work.

My question is, if I were to just purchase a new crankshaft ($250 cast, $500 forged) can I skip the balancing? I'd rather spend the $500 on a forged crank if I can go that route. With all new components on the rotating assembly, would a balance be necessary?

Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

The stock block will let out before the stock crank will.

 

Thank you, but my question is more regarding cost effectiveness. $500 vs $250, dependent on whether or not a balance is required with all new components.

 

What I meant was the extra $250 for a forged crank is a waste when the block itself usually goes first.

I don't know about the balancing, someone else will chime in I'm sure.

 

It still has to be balanced.

 

Thanks guys!

 

as stated don't waste your money on a forged crank and either way it will still have to be balanced

 

With the new pistons and rods it needs to be balanced.
IMHO, $300 for balancing is pretty steep.
BTW, the balancing will require your flexplate/flywheel that you'll use as well as the hermonic balancer if they are going to do it right.........

 

He shouldn't need a flywheel and balancer if they use the same crank that is aready balanced to them. All it really takes is a pen, paper, digital scale, drill and something to remove weight from a rod to balanace the pistons and rods as long as the pistons don't need pressed.

 

It still needs balancing with everything on it. It's to balance out the vibration caused in the crankshaft(which functions like a giant tuning fork). You won't know what the vibration is without sticking everything on it and spinning it.