Opinions on Parts Store Crankshafts?

[MrSony]

Me being the young, mind wandering fool I am am always changing what I want to do to this car. Hell, my original intent when I got the Regal was to rebuild the V6 to stock and have it as stock as possible. Look where that idea went. I'm just at the very least regasket the motor, oil pan, rear main, install my good timing cover on it with a new oil pump and water and fuel pump, and new timing set because the 70s buicks have a crappy nylon timing gear setup that I refuse to let be in any engine I own. And repaint the engine Buick red, since all Buick 350s 75 and down were red.

 

[vicious6]

I'd have it balanced

Absolutely, if I ever do another engine it will be balanced! Makes all the difference in the world having the crank balanced with the rods and piston intact!

 

[olds307 and 403]

Sounds like a good plan. I was considering a 455 and long tail TH400 for my 88. Headers may have not fit due to the taller deck and shortening the driveshaft for a smog motor. My TH350 is on it's way out, so it would die fast plus a new $200 radiator plus the initial $500. I could use my ported 350 heads on it but none of my aluminum manifolds would fit. I would rather drive 6 hours away for a 403 and TH350, which drop right in. Run your 4 barrel intake and carb, regasket, timing set and do all the oil mods planned or run a rev limiter to match the weak factory oiling system and keep rpm low.

 

[lilbowtie]

Absolutely, if I ever do another engine it will be balanced! Makes all the difference in the world having the crank balanced with the rods and piston intact!

I'm going to get some crap for this but for a street engine the factory balance is just fine. Don't get me wrong, balancing is a good thing. If your going to balance your engine they only take one piston assembly (rod, pistons, pin, rings) for your bob weight. You really can't believe the differences you will find in the 8 of them. I balance mine to be within a gram. You need to pay attention to the weight of what you are using to what you are going to use (who checks?) The only engine I have had balanced is the one in the dragster

 

[Speedy94c]

To answer you're original question, I have used the crank kits from O'rieleys in several motors, even a race motor or two and have had good luck.
The company that they use is Crankshaft specialies, or rebuilders they go by both names, and they do a lot of crankshafts. I always check the clearences with plasti gauge and they were within spec. They do include the bearings to match what they have turned the crankshaft to and it is very convienent. This is just my 2 cents and they have worked out great for me.
I agree that the stock balance is fine for everyday driving and even some light mods for hot rodding, where you get into needing to balance is when you start changing rods and pistons to lighter components.

 

[ItsnotaGN]

To answer you're original question, I have used the crank kits from O'rieleys in several motors, even a race motor or two and have had good luck.
The company that they use is Crankshaft specialies, or rebuilders they go by both names, and they do a lot of crankshafts. I always check the clearences with plasti gauge and they were within spec. They do include the bearings to match what they have turned the crankshaft to and it is very convienent. This is just my 2 cents and they have worked out great for me.
I agree that the stock balance is fine for everyday driving and even some light mods for hot rodding, where you get into needing to balance is when you start changing rods and pistons to lighter components.

 

[ItsnotaGN]

If the people with the 350 Apollo are Buick folk, why not have them help check compression and have them help reseal that engine as necessary. Make your car run. The other engine will likely require another trip to the hot tank and extensive cleaning just to be reassembled. When time and resources allow, have your Buick friends help assemble the original 350. Most of us older guys really enjoy passing knowledge to the next generation. If the older guys I started with didn't help me, I probably would be a hack and not a craftsman.