went BOOM 2, Balance Shaft HELP?, the update on my dsm going boom Options

[smrtkd69]

update : balance shaft belt went kplop and got tangled in timing. with NO damage to head or other components. YES!!! currently have timing in pieces awaiting a new timing belt and tensioner. wondering if balance shaft removal is possible with only access to timing side of engine or do i need to yank the whole operation outta there. because if so i would like to pull em now instead of later. someone with some nobility step in and set me straight. thx guys.

[JMoushon]

I believe you have to pull the pan and the front cover (oil pump) off the install the BSE kit. A messy job, oil all in your face and everything, unless you have access to a lift.

It sounds ridiculous, but I prefer to pull the whole engine before doing anything from the tbelt in. Everything is much easier with the engine on a stand. After you pull a couple, it really only takes a couple hours.

[turbohcar]

If you're going to pull the assembly while on the car, i recommend taking out the drivers side motor mount. It gives much easier access to the lower portion of the timing side of the motor while it's sagging. Good luck

[natedogg]

You don't have to take the oil pan off, though it does make it easier. I'm with J though. Taking the engine out would really sweeten the job. I took mine out with the engine out of the car and it was a cinch. I know miami took his out with the engine still in the car and he didn't have a whole lotta fun doing it.

[KOU In3]

They get easier after you do a couple but the first one is definately a royal pain.

Out of the car is a lot easier and cleaner of an operation. Definately buy all the replacement gaskets along the way as having to pull the cover a second time to track down leaks is a royal pain.

If you do it in the car, loosen the subframe bolts so that you can sink the engine down a few inches for clearance.

There should be a good Vfaq on it too.

[Casey]

thx guys. i ended up throwing it all back together with the shafts in and no front b.shaft belt, cuz i didn't have an impact to take off the crank pulley. but yeah with a little vfaq research i found that i will definitley be pulling the shafts, but not until i pull the motor in the fall to rebuild it.

i agree J, i almost always pull the motor because it is easier to do a more thorough job without killing your back. but this time it was stuck in my parking lot at my condo and i didn't want to mess around with trailering it to the shop.

[Casey]

lol sorry that was from me, smrtkd69, i didnt know casey was logged in here.

[natedogg]

If I'm hearing you right, you are going to have some nasty vibrations going on. If you leave both shafts in and leave the belt to the front b-shaft off, that means you have just the rear shaft spinning. The counter-weights are no longer countering anything and will cause some serious vibration. But thats cool if you can live with it.

[KOU In3]

So you've got both shafts still in but no belt? Giving you the shaft attached to the oil pump spinning but nothing to balance it?

I guess the 'out-of phase' installs would be worse but are you experiencing any of the similair symptoms? Really rough idle and low vacuum?

[smrtkd69]

this is the second time ive had to leave a motor like this due to my lack of funds. first was my auto awd with a fully balanced motor so i couldn't feel a thing. the bastard had like 5k on the motor and the shaft siezed. LAME! but ne ways this one i cant feel a difference at all either as far as vibrations, and for right now i have an inconsistent idle but i believe its due to crappy denso plugs and the timing be a tad off. o yeah and a leaky intercooler that i still havent replaced.

[smrtkd69]

on a good note it seems to rev a bit quicker, even though the rear shaft is still intact.