Engine Performance This section is for discussion on all engine building related questions.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: KPower

New engine or New pistons?

Old 12-12-2012, 10:48 AM
  #1  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
ENWOD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 9
Total Cats: 0
Default New engine or New pistons?

Hi all,

Had a bit of a mishap and have melted pistons 1 and 4. Although 2 and 3 seem to be unharmed. I believe it was pinging slightly due to a dodgy M/S tune the previous owner applied or because the timing was slightly out (I'm still not entirely sure on the reason and need to investigate further).

I've recently fitted a brand new turbo to the engine after the oil seals went previously. However the car was still smoking slightly and was losing some coolant. So we took the head off and found the pistons were knackered.


I see two options (unless anyone can suggest something else?)

1: Buy either 2 or 4 pistons from a scrap engine alongside some new piston-rings and big end bearings etc and end up with what is essentially a new engine?

2: Buy a second hand 1.6 engine with good compression/a known runner and fit my sump and turbo to this engine and use this. (This is the cheaper option).



If you were in my place what would you guys suggest?
Also if I do end up replacing pistons etc would you recommend replacing only the damaged ones or just to replace them all? In addition; can you suggest anything else that should be seen to whilst I have the engine out?


Cheers
ENWOD is offline  
Old 12-12-2012, 10:56 AM
  #2  
Elite Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Ryan_G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 2,568
Total Cats: 217
Default

If getting the whole engine is cheaper I would do that just because you know the engine as a whole is running with good compression. If you put new pistons in your engine you may have other problems that will then kill the engine anyway.
Ryan_G is offline  
Old 12-12-2012, 10:58 AM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (4)
 
hornetball's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Granbury, TX
Posts: 6,301
Total Cats: 696
Default

Well, pistons don't leak coolant, so you have other issues (head, block, head gasket, all of the above?) with your existing engine.

If it were me, I'd swap the engine.
hornetball is offline  
Old 12-12-2012, 11:33 AM
  #4  
Junior Member
 
my97miata's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 135
Total Cats: -52
Default

Swap the entire engine is what I would do.
my97miata is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Full_Tilt_Boogie
Build Threads
84
04-12-2021 04:21 PM
stoves
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
5
04-21-2016 03:00 PM
90 Turbo
MEGAsquirt
19
10-19-2015 03:23 PM
tazswing
Race Prep
20
10-03-2015 11:04 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: New engine or New pistons?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:09 PM.