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Thread: Looking for a frank opinion (re: Engine problems / failure)

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Posts: 11-20 of 27
2013-10-23 10:41:10
#11
Engine torn down, list of issues below:

Cylinders have been bored off center by about 1mm. Because of this the headgaskets don't seal around the cylinder properly.
We are 99% sure the coolant is coming from the water jackets behind the sleeves and leaking out of the bottom straight into the pan.
Evidence very strongly suggests a torque plate was not used when the block was machined for the sleeves.
The front-cover was not machined properly however it is at a point where the headgasket was able to compensate (no signs of leaking).


There is a very, very strong chance the block has cracked on the exhaust side just under where the two middle headbolts go as there is signs of coolant leaking there. Last port of call is to do a pressure test of the block, but we're pretty sure it's scrap.


Other things of interest:
All the windage trays and baffles were missing
Lots of snapped bolts all around the sump.
Cams appear to be 2nd hand (were sold to me as a new product).

All in all not very happy, that is a very expensive engine ($9,000) that has gone to waste. To add insult to injury, the porting job on the cylinder head was piss poor - all the ports are knife-edged at the 'divider' point and the valve stems / guides have copped it a bit too.

SR20-Forums - you now have the proof you've been wanting for a very long time.
Last edited by jakeb` on 2013-10-23 at 11-59-18.
2013-10-23 12:21:48
#12
Looking for a frank opinion (re: Engine problems / failure)
Wow, what a botched job.
2013-10-23 16:57:47
#13
Wow!!! Sorry To Hear Those Horror Stories... That Tottally Sucks...
2013-10-23 18:34:34
#14
Horrible man sorry to hear it. Are you completely out all that money or can you get some of it back from the builder due to the sloppy job?
2013-10-23 18:35:07
#15
Wow!!

I was following your build on another forum (last year & not the forum you linked), although I can't remember which one??? I am sorry to hear about your situation. This is really unfortunate!

Is the engine builder (or the machine shop that did the work) willing to step up and take any responsibility for this? Where do things stand with that?
2013-10-23 20:11:29
#16
Such an unfortunate turn of events. =(
2013-10-23 22:27:03
#17
I wouldnt let that autech guy build me a bicycle let alone an engine
2013-10-24 02:20:48
#18
Lynch that made me lol.
2013-10-24 04:47:18
#19
Damn man. I feel your pain. Been through about 3 or 4 botched big bore sleeve jobs myself. Eventually gave up wasting my money and did an 88mm bore on stock sleeves. Doesn't eat the tar like my 2.3 did, but then again it has lasted more than 2 weeks also. The only way I'd ever try this again is if I get a block done by Mazworx or a reputable shop in the states.

Good luck in sorting this out and hopefully getting something out of it in the end.
2013-10-24 06:43:45
#20
Truely gutted for you mate, been following your build the whole time now, alarm bells would have been ringing for me when things started to go awry, I dont think I would ever feel comfortable running an engine I hadn't built myself/been a part of, watching it go together.
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