5.0 28oz, 50oz balancer question
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: maui.HI
5.0 28oz, 50oz balancer question
I've got a 5.0HO out of a 87 stang that I may plan to install a 331 stroker kit. The kit says its for 28oz external balance, but my HO is a 50oz. ext/bal. Obviously I need to purchase a 28oz damper and flexplate. 2 questions: Why does ford have to different external balances for the 5.0 when both have the same bore and stroke? And would a machine shop be able to balance my rotating assembly so I can use my current 50oz. parts? Thanks for any replies
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
I seem to remember reading that it had something to do with making the engines run smoother, that 28oz. wasn't really enough of an imbalance. That was the reasoning for the different firing order of the 351W as well, it was supposed to even out the firing pulses of the engines. For most of us we can't feel the difference, but I guess they wanted the old men in their Lincoln Town cars to have the smoothest ride possible. This doesn't explain why the 351W stayed with the 28oz. imbalance instead of going to 50oz with the 302. I suspect it might be that the bigger motor was felt to be smooth enough already.
If any younger guys who drive Town Cars were offended by my above statement, I apologize in advance...
If any younger guys who drive Town Cars were offended by my above statement, I apologize in advance...
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Just as long as you stay with what balance factor for the crank you're using. That block is dumb, it doesn't know what balance factor crank is in there...It doesn't matter what year block you have, your crank has to have a balancer and flexplate/flywheel that match. As long as you don't mix a 50oz crank with a 28oz balancer/flexplate you will be ok.
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I did a M50D transmission swap on my 1978 Ford F150 2wd w/302 c.i.d.. I left the old flywheel in because of the 28 ounce flywheel. I got a picture in my gallery showing the counter balance weights. Flywheel on left is 28 ounce and flywheel off a 1978 F150 302 engine and on the right is the 50 ounce off a 1989 Ford F150 302 engine, notice th external counter balance.
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From: maui.HI
Thanks for the helpful input guys. If I do decide to go stroker I think I'll order a balanced kit with the flexplate and damper from the supplier.
Mike
Mike
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
Good pics, Buck. I've been wanting to post one like that but the only 28oz flywheel I have has been lightened and rebalanced, so it doesn't have the stock imbalance cast into the back. 
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You have to click on the box to get the pictures to show up I could not figure out how to post them correctly. This flywheel came off a 84 f150 in the junk yard. so it should be 50oz, but my concern is the holes drilled above the weight. are they supposed to be there or could it have been rebalanced.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
1981 casting number so it could be 50oz, and looks like it judging by the counterweight. But that's a lot of drilling...looks as if someone removed a lot of material to rebalance it down to 28oz. Make me wonder if the truck it came off of had the original engine in it, or had an earlier engine swapped in at some point and they rebalanced the flywheel to the earlier engine.