Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

This car is dumb

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

LOL, can't argue that logic. It is kind of dumb, only 200whp? What was I thinking?

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

I was whining like a big baby ealier in this thread.

Well I got a killer deal on a 1.8, so now I can stop crying.

Paid $100 for a motor that's down a little compression, but has a fairly new FM Level 1 clutch bolted to it.

I was pretty happy.

That's the motor I'm planning on doing my "semi-18" build on.

What about your motor build? Order any parts yet, tear anything apart yet?

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Sweet man, they are out there.

Got rods on the way, but have not really torn anything apart yet. Still got a list of parts to order. The car runs great and is fun as hell now, so I'm not in a major hurry.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

Take the amount of money you want to spend on the engine build, then double it for the actual number.

Ask me how i know...

Landrew

iTrader: (2)

True and then double the time it will take........ Especially if you wait for the deals that show up every so often

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

The car has been running great. Pulls awesome, fun as hell to drive, the grip is unbelievable in the twisties. Yum, i love this car. It's burning oil though, about 1 quart per 1,000. Not cool. No idea if it's the turbo or the motor, but I'm going to be revamping both soon. The car is on the new walbro 255, but I have yet to switch to e85. Will still be doing that soon for fun.

After much consideration I've decided to go for a "rebuild plus", basically an OEM rebuild + rods. This will be run on e85 with 9:1 compression of the 96 engine I have here, unless something doesn't look right internally and then I'll be using my 99 block. Lets say goals are 275whp, maybe closer to 300, maybe closer to 250. We'll see.

What I'm looking at for the block:
- Ebay rods. Will balance them with my scales.
- Clean and re-use pistons assuming no damage to pistons or bores. Chromoly rings. Fresh hone.
- OEM MLS headgasket, OEM bearings, newer oil pump(less than 20k)
- All the gaksets. blah blah blah.
- Will learn to plastigauge bearing clearances, file rings to spec, etc. Meticulously clean everything.
- Please add anything I'm missing here.

For the head.
-relap/reseat valves.
-clean, replace valve stem seals
-MAYBE mild porting
-deck flat
-anything missing?

Turbo setup:
-Upgrade to gt28, maybe ISIS 2871?
-Upgrade to big divorced wastegate downpipe.

Just got the first piece to the puzzle in the mail (thanks Vlad):


I have no doubts I may exceed my budget on this engine build, but it will still be quite a way off yours (and Landrews). I've decided against shooting for anything north of 300whp, because much past that it will just cost me way too much money to beef up the drivetrain anyways. ****, I'd be happy with an OEM rebuild as long as the car didn't consume oil - the rods are just thrown in there for the added benefit of more power.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

welcome

glad they went to a good home

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

I took apart my new dash, took all the rust off the dash bar (thing was nasty), painted it with rustoleum semi gloss paint, and reassembled the dash. I have yet to install it in the car, but it's ready to go now.. So that is neat. Too bad my camera fucked up so no pictures, but it wasn't really exciting anyways, just busy work.

Otherwise the last weekend was spend working on my beater winter DD, appropriately dubbed the "rally teg".




It's in tip top shape now, although I have a few minor things to take care of before the snow hits. A few rear trailing arm bushings, a front tie rod, and an alignment. Parts are on order.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

WELL THEN, i've bought another car.



It's got a nasty rod knock, but the heads seem fine. The plan for now is a hybrid. It will be an ej22e bottom end, and slap the ej251 heads on it. This should give me a good running motor, with better flowing heads, and lower compression. I've got the ej22 bottom end and heads already, just gotta get some parts and slap this ***** together.

good flowing heads and low compression, you say? sounds like a perfect candidate for boost.

The plan is just to get it running for snow/winter duties for now, but if it feels too lethargic It will likely have some kind of home brew turbo setup in its future.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

You'll never have time for skiing at this rate.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

The skiing comes first, it's more likely I wont have time for anything else.

I only ride 3 days a week, but you are right - i have a problem with overwhelming myself with projects. I've got stuff to play with for a while.

albertogti117

iTrader: (2)

Any reason you decided not to go the forged piston route? Just wondering as I am getting ready to do a similar bottom end build. Still contemplating spending the extra dough for Supertechs though.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Yeah, a few reasons. Here is my train of thought on this.

1) the car will run e85, if it runs on pump gas for any reason I'll just run it on wastegate or whatever. But around town, at the racetrack, etc I'll have e85. Because of this the pistons should be fine at my desired 260-300whp goal.

2) the transmission in it will be a grenade after 250wtq anyways. Even 6 speeds aren't good for much past 350.

3) budget. If keeping stock piston and bores, you can cut pretty much ALL the machine work out of the engine build and I can do it in my garage with a simple hone and re-ring.

4) as a canyon carving car, 300whp is overkill. **** 200whp is probably perfect for a car that spends most its time in the twisties.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

Friend of mine went down the path of ^^^^... He went missing for a while.

Then he sold the swabaru.

Chilicharger665

iTrader: (2)

As a fellow New Mexican I need answers! Where are you getting this e85 and what track are you talking about? I'm going to be at NAPA Speedway October 18-20 for their HPDE school thingy. Is that the track you are talking about?

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Yeah, considering where I live is a 1/2 mile dirt road on my commute every day, and the general condition of most the backroads, and the immense amount of snow that can fall in the winter, subarus just make sense. Don't worry though, the miata is and always will be my "fast" and "good handling" car. The scoobie is just for the other half of the year, and will be taking the place of my beater integra once it's up and going. The goal and theme of the subie is a backroads rally car, so I'll be sticking with stock ride height, sways, upgraded shocks, mud flaps, HID fogs, etc.

I won't be missing, although because it's getting cold and wintery the miata will be put in storage soon.

Well, I live up in Taos. We only have 1 e85 gas station, but seriously I fill up at that gas station every single time I get gas anyways. The car spends 99% of its time up here. If i go for any long trips where there is questionable e85 availability, I can switch back to my 91 map and keep it on low boost.

The tracks I'm refering to are NAPA speedway/ASR/whatever they want to call it right now. As well as the drag strip, but I'm only going there when I have enough power to not embarrass myself.

As for e85 availability, i know there is at least 1 station in santa fe and albuquerque, although when my car is sorted enough to pump out a few trackdays I'll probably be bringing my own fuel just in case.

Chilicharger665

iTrader: (2)

I tracked my MSM with no prep and I am about to track my n/a 01. Go to the track. Prepping forever doesnt make sense. Go to the track, and if you decide you like it, then it will change your car priorities a lot.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

You are right, I have a list of excuses why I have yet to attend a trackday but I'll spare you

I'll just suffice to say i have plenty of other hobbies and other ways I waste my time and $$. I do have a bad feeling I'll get horribly addicted to trackdays once I start attending them. The end goal for this car is to see 2-3 trackdays a year, and those trackdays will be on wastegate boost levels to preserve the car and help me learn how to drive.

Now, serious build discussion:

So i've got a 94 motor in the garage, with ~100k. The plan was to build the bottom end of that motor, stock pistons, forged rods, etc - then slap my refreshed 99 head on it and call it a day. Now I'm starting to have second thoughts, mainly because I like the higher compression of my 99 block.

Would it be a mistake to build the lower compression bottom end? The main reason I'd do this is because the car would be out of commission for MUCH less time. IS there any data at all on the strength of the 94-97 pistons, vs 99-00 ? I think strength is my main concern. I know they will be less prone to det, which would be nice if i decide to run a pump gas map as well, but for making REAL power the only fuel I'll be using is e85.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

LOL. Hey Chili, check out my new sig pic!