Oops, I think I broke my engine!

[Percy]

So like yeah, I think I had a boost spike or 3 at the track day today, and something has let go or melted internally.

Cos now the poor old girl has a miss at idle, smokes like a steam train at start up for about 5-10 seconds, and felt sluggish as driving home (very carefully driving home!)

So anyway, I considered some options to fix stuff.

Bin the whole thing and get something newer/ less k's etc, can't really afford that right now unfortunately.

Replacement engine, probably cheapest option at about $1-1.5k, un-known condition of engine is the only worry, and finding a RevC to match mine could be annoying.

Chuck an STi conversion at it, issue the same as option 1, $$$

RevD conversion, possibly the cheapest/ best conversion for me, as Legacy's are a boatload cheaper than Sti WRX's and I like the twin-turboeyness. Also after taking Kims RevD RSK for a couple of laps, it goes a heap better than mine does!

Anyway, is there a possibility that all my twin turbo stuff will bolt onto an STi long block, without needing any computery tuning?

Also is a non STi WRX engine the same/ similar to a GTB engine?

Anyone else got any idea's for a fix that doesn't involve a second mortgage?

[Nachoooo]

Sounds similar to primary turbo failure possibly?

[Percy]

 Nachoooo said:

Sounds similar to primary turbo failure possibly?

I forgot to mention, its puffing smoke out the oil filler, biiiiiig puffs of it.

So probably not a turbo issue, which annoyingly would be a lot easier to fix!

Another thought is a rebuild, which I could do meself.

Does anyone know the approximate cost of all the rebuild bits, ie pistons bearings gaskets etc etc?

[Timmah]

Talk to Richard/SAS and he will look after you.

[Percy]

 Timmah said:

Talk to Richard/SAS and he will look after you.

Aye, I will do that, cheers!

[boon]

Cracked piston ring land I reckons. Reasonable candidate for a rebuild if it hasn't made a mess of the bore.

[Percy]

 boon said:

Cracked piston ring land I reckons. Reasonable candidate for a rebuild if it hasn't made a mess of the bore.

Aye, read about half the internets about it, and its most likely a burnt ring/ ring land issue.

Current plan is source a non munted running engine, bung that in, then pull the munted one apart and rebuild it better stronger faster!

Or if its toast, Sti motor conversion time.

Might have to "invest" in a track car too, so I don't keep exploding the daily.

[Marky]

Do that ^^

How much of them boosties were you running?

[Percy]

 Marky said:

Do that ^^

How much of them boosties were you running?

Ahh, yes??

Me cheap nasty Aliexpress "Defi" boost gauge beeps at 1.5bar apparently, which alerted me to the spiking, but it may have been going up to just under that without me noticing as I had set the boost controller at 1.2bar the week before. I had looked at the gauge on the first lap to check it and it didn't go over 1.2, so I then ignored it till the beep.

Might get a better quality boost controller so it doesn't lunch the new motor.

Mind you I haven't checked the controller's knob (hur hur!) to see if it was winding itself out or anything derptastic like that.

[Kiwi_Fozze]

electronic controller ftw....

[Marky]

Jeeebus

Yeah that'll do it

[Percy]

 kwi_fozze said:

electronic controller ftw....

Don't they cause weirdness during twin turbo changeover?

Yeah yeah, someone will suggest single turbo it blah blah, can't afford that malarky at the moment.

[Percy]

 Marky said:

Jeeebus

Yeah that'll do it

Yep, was going bloody good before it went pop tho!!

Question for those what know these things, converting a RevC to RevD means changing the engine loom, ECU/ dash loom, ECU and dash over yes?

Anything else needs doing?

Only asking in case I find a RevD car for cheap, probably not worth doing unless one has the whole vehicle/ front cut to swap bits over.

[Kiwi_Fozze]

oooohh yeah this is true!!!

gutted to hear about your loss...

I understand a v7 sti short block may be the most cost effective option....

[Percy]

 kwi_fozze said:

oooohh yeah this is true!!!

gutted to hear about your loss...

I understand a v7 sti short block may be the most cost effective option....

Cheers!

It was bound to happen eventually, 240000k's will have an effect on things, no matter how well maintained they are.

Aye, will be looking at V7 engines if the current one is toast, or if I find one cheap enough anyway.

[Marky]

Converting to rev d would be a massive job for literally no gain, they do drive nicer but not to the extent of trying to convert to it - better off selling yours and getting one if you wanted it that bad

You can make ok power by doing some supporting mods rather than just winding the boost through the roof - my blue rev-a was making a good 30kW over stock @ wheels on 3-4 psi less than stock boost. New one I haven't dynoed yet but is definitely quicker again, proper intercooling and letting it breathe works wonders

And yeah, most electronic controllers get confuzzled by the twins - the drop then pickup again makes them shoot sky high after changeover if they're closed loop. The old AVC-R can be programmed to suit but why bother

[Percy]

 Marky said:

Converting to rev d would be a massive job for literally no gain, they do drive nicer but not to the extent of trying to convert to it - better off selling yours and getting one if you wanted it that bad

You can make ok power by doing some supporting mods rather than just winding the boost through the roof - my blue rev-a was making a good 30kW over stock @ wheels on 3-4 psi less than stock boost. New one I haven't dynoed yet but is definitely quicker again, proper intercooling and letting it breathe works wonders

And yeah, most electronic controllers get confuzzled by the twins - the drop then pickup again makes them shoot sky high after changeover if they're closed loop. The old AVC-R can be programmed to suit but why bother

Roger.

Was only wondering because as you say they do drive nicer, which I know now because Kim has a 2003 BE5 RSK, which I got to hoon on Ruapuna a bit after mine spat the dummy.

Will be doing all the mods I can while the engine is out, best time to do a lot of them, and refurbishing anything else in the engine bay while access is easy!

I do miss being able to stand in the engine bay (yes folks actually stand on things, like the engine) of me old Valiants, while the engine was still in there!

Made maintenance sooooo much easier than on modern cars.

[Percy]

Just checking, an EJ206 is the same internally as my EJ208?

Just things like the oil cooler, turbo's, and a couple of other bits and bobs are different yah?

So the 206 would be a viable option if I swapped the bits over?

Or chucked an external oil cooler on, which might not be a bad idea anyway, while its in bits.

[irishmangonemad]

Bad news Percy, you'll have to drive that lovely RSK you bought!

[Rosssub]

 Percy said:

Just checking, an EJ206 is the same internally as my EJ208?

Just things like the oil cooler, turbo's, and a couple of other bits and bobs are different yah?

So the 206 would be a viable option if I swapped the bits over?

Or chucked an external oil cooler on, which might not be a bad idea anyway, while its in bits.

Yip, same engine. Just the water pump, oil cooler, turbo's and I think also the EJ206 will be missing the crank sprocket timing belt guide.

[Percy]

 irishmangonemad said:

Bad news Percy, you'll have to drive that lovely RSK you bought!

Aye!

I did a few laps of Ruapuna in it, its very nice!

But no, I think I'm relegated to the Suzuki till my car is fixed.

[Percy]

 Rosssub said:

Yip, same engine. Just the water pump, oil cooler, turbo's and I think also the EJ206 will be missing the crank sprocket timing belt guide.

Cheers Rossup!

I will do cam belt /water pump etc before putting any new engine in anyway, be silly not to.

Might order a silicone intake hose and water hose kit as well.

[Rosssub]

Sweet, just make sure it's a Rev C EJ206/EJ208 (9.0:1CR). Rev A/B are 8.5:1CR and Rev D is 9.5:1CR.

[Percy]

 Rosssub said:

Sweet, just make sure it's a Rev C EJ206/EJ208 (9.0:1CR). Rev A/B are 8.5:1CR and Rev D is 9.5:1CR.

Roger that!

[Percy]

Found the cause of the issues, stupid cheap ass boost controller had would itself out 5-6 "clicks" from the 15 out to 20 something, so it was probably free boosting.

Gah, should have spent the $100 on a decent one in the first place, super derp!