My ghetto rebuild - any thoughts?
Apr 20, 2009, 11:35 PM
#1
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My ghetto rebuild - any thoughts?
Well, I went through piston 3 on my Evo 1 last Thursday night boosting 1.65-1.85bar and so am in the market for a rebuild. Given the complete lack of any 4G63 engines in Okinawa that aren't riddled with crankwalk beyond saviour, I'm going to have to hope there isn't any big damage/scoring to the cylinder walls.
Due to my slightly precarious work situation and not knowing if I'm actually going to be in Japan in another 4 months, I have decided to do a slightly ghetto rebuild. Here's what I'm thinking:
Evo 8 or 9 pistons & rods (hoping to get a set of slightly used ones from somewhere in the US cheaply)
Mitsubishi MLS headgasket
ARP rod bolts (thinking of using these or stock ones)
ACL bearings
Brian Crower springs
Along with these parts I already had:
Ralliart engine mounts
Fuel filter
GM MAF & MAF Translator II
Depending on the headwork cost, I may also look into sneakily putting in the following:
GT35R
OS Giken twinplate
I know I should replace oil pump/water pump etc but am really trying to keep costs down on this thing. If it blows up you can all tell me "I told you so". Anyway, let me know what you think about the setup, good or bad.
Due to my slightly precarious work situation and not knowing if I'm actually going to be in Japan in another 4 months, I have decided to do a slightly ghetto rebuild. Here's what I'm thinking:
Evo 8 or 9 pistons & rods (hoping to get a set of slightly used ones from somewhere in the US cheaply)
Mitsubishi MLS headgasket
ARP rod bolts (thinking of using these or stock ones)
ACL bearings
Brian Crower springs
Along with these parts I already had:
Ralliart engine mounts
Fuel filter
GM MAF & MAF Translator II
Depending on the headwork cost, I may also look into sneakily putting in the following:
GT35R
OS Giken twinplate
I know I should replace oil pump/water pump etc but am really trying to keep costs down on this thing. If it blows up you can all tell me "I told you so". Anyway, let me know what you think about the setup, good or bad.
Last edited by soldave; Apr 20, 2009 at 11:41 PM.
Apr 20, 2009, 11:46 PM
#3
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They look a very nice set of rods, but am looking really to keep costs down and have seen a few sets of OEM Evo 8 and 9 pistons/rods at decent prices on here that I am interested in as part of the build.
Apr 20, 2009, 11:47 PM
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Why upgrade to a gt35r and a twin plate while skipping out on parts you SHOULD replace. Whats the point of a nice turbo and a fancy twin plate if you blow your rebuild in 100 miles cuz its starving for oil. 
Apr 20, 2009, 11:52 PM
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Because I only threw those 2 in as a side comment and they are not part of the main engine build and not so likely I'd get them anyway.
Might still look at a water pump and oil pump if I can find them very cheap.
Might still look at a water pump and oil pump if I can find them very cheap.
Last edited by soldave; Apr 20, 2009 at 11:57 PM.
Apr 21, 2009, 01:02 AM
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Replacing those two units (oil and water pump) will be worth there weight in gold once your engine is up and running. Some of the more extreme drag/road racers might have an oil pump just kicking around as they have upgraded theirs.
Apr 21, 2009, 04:44 AM
#7
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Just need someone on here to answer their email/PM about rods and pistons now
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Apr 21, 2009, 11:52 PM
#9
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Ahhh, now I see. Thanks for the explanation. Need to find out if the Evo VIII/IX pumps are compatible with the early Evos.
Apr 22, 2009, 12:04 AM
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Apr 22, 2009, 04:54 PM
#13
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Another thing worth noting about any potential rebuild is this: Okinawa has no machine work shops that offer anything like decent quality. I think there is one main machine shop and they do the machine work on a damn lathe! Someone just did a BMW rebuild and used this shop and the blowby they have is ridiculous. So most people who are rebuilding decent engines send their stuff up to a big machine shop in mainland for a proper job (neither quick nor cheap). I'd be looking at doing the same or even sending it over to the States for work to be done.
I suppose my two further options are this:
1. Pull the sump off, get to the pistons and replace just the bad piston with an early Evo one lying around. I'd get poor compression in that cylinder, but it would be working and would be cheap and simple. I'd then beat on the car like it was my wife(!) while I got parts together for a real rebuild.
2. Try to do the rebuild myself. Now I have little experience of engine internals but one of my buddies has taken engines apart and the other knows most things about engines and has done rebuilds before. We've got the plastigauge, micrometers and a honing tool if anything needs honing. Only worry about that is that I've heard doing any work o the head can be a real pain without real specialist tools.
Any thoughts given these updates?
I suppose my two further options are this:
1. Pull the sump off, get to the pistons and replace just the bad piston with an early Evo one lying around. I'd get poor compression in that cylinder, but it would be working and would be cheap and simple. I'd then beat on the car like it was my wife(!) while I got parts together for a real rebuild.
2. Try to do the rebuild myself. Now I have little experience of engine internals but one of my buddies has taken engines apart and the other knows most things about engines and has done rebuilds before. We've got the plastigauge, micrometers and a honing tool if anything needs honing. Only worry about that is that I've heard doing any work o the head can be a real pain without real specialist tools.
Any thoughts given these updates?
Apr 23, 2009, 09:25 AM
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