My new engine has a crank key all the way to the end of the crank. What do you guys do? Aftermarket balancer? Or can you have a stock balancer cut for that? It's a Callies crank!

 

You can have the stock balancer cut. Just have to find a machine shop that can do "broaching". I think I paid about $40 to have mine cut back in the day.

 

Cool! Is there any advantage to running a under drive pulley or aftermarket over the stock one? I'm running a turbo.

 

Depends on who you ask. I've never liked the idea of slowing down the accessories, especially the alternator and water pump. I'd say with forced induction the benefit will be small enough that you'd barely notice. I'm sure there are others who would disagree though. It's really just a tradeoff, pick up a few HP but lose some efficiency at or near idle.

 

On my old Callies crank the key was removable. If yours is, I would just pull it out and run the stock balancer. You don't need a keyed/pinned crank if you're not running a supercharger IMO.

 

I guess I'll have to look at it closer but I figured it was a full length one with common use with the timing chain crank gear.

 

You can pull it and use the stock balancer, have your stocker cut, or go aftermarket like Powerbond, TCI, ATI, etc. Powerbond, TCI, SLP, etc are all very basic balancers and do not have the dampening quality that an ATI would. But ATI doesn't have much in the way of offerings for the trucks (alignment issues). Powerbond does make a stock size balancer as well as their usually purchased underdriven items. Then you'd still have the stock size but with SFI approval.

 

Are the ATI balancers the better way to go or is the stock balancer my best option? I'm just thinking of the longevity of the engine here and not interested in underdriving at all.