88-90 GM 3800 V6 Balance Shaft help

I know someone must have experience with this. Help Ian.

Is this a no brainer to get the balance shaft our, and back in, or is it going to be a battle?

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"HLS" wrote

Sorry, wasn't following the thread....what engine/balance shaft/vehicle are we talking about?

Ian

This is an 88-90 GM 3.8 litre V6. The engine in my Reatta has 145,000 on it, and I want to build up an engine to swap in before the old one eventually fails. This engine has the rotating balance shaft, and I havent worked on them before. Is a special tool required (as inevitably shown in the manuals), or is it simpler than that?

Thanks

According to Chilton's, you may need one or more of the following:

1) A "Slide Hammer tool" (to pull the balance shaft from the front of the engine). 2) A "camshaft remover/installer tool" (To remove the rear balance shaft bearing from the rear of the engine). 3) A "balance shaft rear bearing installer tool" (to install the new bearing). 4) A "Balance Shaft Installer Tool" (self explanatory, screws into the balance shaft and is removed after installation).

Whether or not you can improvise from tools you already own, I haven't a clue.

Thanks Arthur. I'm going to have a go at getting it out this weekend. Bearing removal and reinstallating will probably have to be handled at the machine shop.

I'll post a follow-up if I learn anything that might be helpful to the group

Thanks, Ian. I let the machine install the cam bearings too.

I'm sure they will be happy to install new bearings for the balance shaft. I intend to let them balance the whole engine as well. (For the newbie...the balance shaft neutralizes a good bit of the vibration in this type of engine. It does not counter all the stresses which can be relieved by proper balancing.)

Actually, the engine I have in the Reatta would probably run another 50,000. This is a matter of doing something well, and keeping my inlaws from worrying when I am on the road.