Yes it will be off a little. However how much difference it will make depends totally on the motor and how you drive it. so really unless you have a total performance engine and are spinning it 6000rpms + on a regular basis you are pretty much going to have to deal with it. If you did that motor than you would really need to rip it apart and have it rebalanced.

 

Its totally stock other than pertronix, but I do believe the rotating assembly was balanced when the motor was rebuilt. Why does this mean the motor will need to be ripped apart? Weren't the motors unbalanced from the factory? She's my daily driver so I drive her a lot.

 

I just googled and some say it wouldnt cause any problems. Then again, on this forum I have read multiple threads about vibration issues after t5 swaps. Chime in ppl!

 

Most of the vibration problems come from the pinion angle being changed by the new T5 transmission cross member. It should be checked after everything is bolted up. Wedge Shims can be added to change the pinion angle on the rear end.

Another source of vibration can be the drive shaft if there is too much free play. 3/4 to 1 inch with the cars weight on the axle is correct. I have also read that a worn out yoke/U joints can be sources of vibration

I used an aluminum drive shaft (Street or Track $299) that gave me 3/4 of an inch freeplay. Pictures and info: http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id34.html

 

I wasn't being clear. Is this something that could potentially mess my car up? I never thought about the balance issue of doing a t5 swap before so this concerns me a lot. Would any of you risk it?

And is there really no way of using my flexplate to at least "ball-park" the flywheel balance? I would think there would be someone that has done this.

 

Well I spoke to a machinist in person today, and he promised the motor will not break itself or anything near that if I just buy a 28oz flywheel. Yes it undoes the balance of the rotating assembly, but it will be no less balanced than a stock motor out of the factory. He even seemed to think it would be a little better than an original motor/flywheel out of the factory.

 

My engine builder balanced the motor with the harmonic balancer and flywheel/clutch. I can not imagine that replacing a clutch and flywheel on an engine would warrant re-balancing the engine.

Thanks for posting the answer. Sorry for misunderstanding the question you asked.

 

(FOREHEAD SMACK!) Why did I not even think about when clutches/flywheels get replaced as maintenance... I've said it before and I'll say it again. Forums are awesome for making you feel stupid. And a limitless resource!
anyways, as everyone knows the holidays are expensive and cash is tight. Some funds will be freed up for me hopefully in the first few months of 2013. Project to be continued at a later date...
p.s. for anyone that cares I believe I will be a driver/mechanic for the coveted 24hrs of LEMONS race in march. I'm with team Undead Racing, we sent our applications in today. 1985' 325e zombie car. Luck won't be enough.

 

Does anyone know if I would need the lower shift boot for my car when doing the t5 swap or for a fox body?

 

Sorry to ressurect a dead thread, but did you get back to the T5 project yet?