Value of Engine Balancing

[Charles P]

Just pondering before I set the parts off. 
Does anyone have qualified opinions on the value of balancing the full bottom end (crank, flywheel, rods, pistons) vs just the crank & flywheel?
It strikes me that crank whip must impact the value of balancing but how much?

Thanks 

Charles

[Hugh Barnes]

I have always gone for as much as I can. I mean, any imbalance in weight will show itself somewhere - in differing degrees I grant you, but my machine shop will always ask for pistons and rods when asked to balance. They have some witty little 'double' scales they do the rods on that weigh 'each end' of the rod. I've just done a Riley 9 engine in this way and it is as smooth as silk.

I can't give you anything more 'academic' than that, I'm afraid. You might also think about the possibility of adding some clutch components into the mix as well....

hth...