Thread: What should i do while my engine is apart?

hi folks,
as a lot of you know im working on a big cam/meth/e85/IC build right now, with plans to go turbo in the not to distant future. the goal is 500whp.

My engine is already down to the short block, and its coming out of the car next weekend. Before my engine goes back in the car, i want to make sure i do everything i "should" do.
For starters the engine is definitely getting ARP head studs. I am leaning towards new rod bearings since they're only 35 bucks. Machine shop also quoted me 60 bucks to recon the rods. Pop has a tool to mic the rod journals and make sure they are in spec. if they look good i wont recon. I have no intention of pulling the mains, or the crank, since i know that requires line boring the engine.

I am on the fence about rings without seeing my current ones, but willing to throw some at it. Question is do the stock rings on these engines have enough ring end gap to handle the higher boost?
I am also wondering if i need to get ARP rod bolts. Id rather not if i dont have to, but i dont want to put crap back in the car either.

Originally Posted by GTPpower

L67 bottom end? You're going to need new pistons to increase the compression.

Just keep in mind, 500whp is basically impossible. The compressor doesn't flow enough.

500 is the goal on turbo. id be happy to see 380 on the m90. Unless thats what you meant.

Originally Posted by 04lss

500 is the goal on turbo. id be happy to see 380 on the m90. Unless thats what you meant.

I should note realistically, i expect 350 to the wheels on the m90 with a 2.5 pulley, meth, e85, ic and the xpz cam.

Originally Posted by GTPpower

Ah, that's cake then. In that case, don't even touch the bottom end.

no studs or anything? I think ill do bearings no matter what, and have the rods checked. Since pop just threw a rod bearing in his 3800. (age rather than power i think)

as cheap as these engines are. you blow one up, you just go find another one. what you should do for your dads car. your car run it till ot pops, then replace it. cheaper in the long run really.

Does that include swapping the bearings and the rings?

once you open the bottom end, you got a coin toss engine, 50/50 is makes it past 200 miles, had one guy here a few years back, had a shop rebuild his engine, it was knocking before he got out the driveway. they rebuilt it again, and dont ya know, it was also sh it and started to knock before he could drive it. i think they even swapped out his block on the second rebuild.

on the rare flip side, people have done back yard rebuids and they worked out fine.

Not trying to argue with anyone, im purely trying to educate myself here. I thought that the rule was to not remove the mains/crank because the block would twist, but pulling rods is ok.
I know ive had at least 2 JY engines that i reconned the rods in and did rings. Both lasted thousands of miles . One died because of metal getting in the engine during a cam install, and the other blew a head gasket because the radiator had a hole in it.

Two things concern me.

1. I disabled the PCV system on the car because i didnt want to deal with drilling a new one for the IC.I am using the breather on the valve cover, and i can remove the breather and see a small ammount of steam. I am hoping this doesnt relate to blow by.
I am "fairly" confident the car doesnt smoke. Its blown some smoke on two occasions. First after the Gen 5 install, but i had sprayed the IC and a few things down with brake clean to get some of the carbon off. The second time, after i went to town on my IAC valve and the housing with brake clean while it was on the car. Both times, i havent been able to re-create it.

2. If a bearing does let go, i dont want to ruin my cam and lifters. I dont really care about the rest of it, but the cam and lifters are a chunk of change if metal tears them up.

Originally Posted by GTPpower

Upside-down m90 GTP dyno - YouTube

MY GOD THE NOISE. Whats your shift point?

I think I was shifting around 6700 last time at the track.

Originally Posted by GTPpower

I think I was shifting around 6700 last time at the track.

Wonder if i can get anywhere near that pulley size with the addition of meth to the mix. I imagine with the Cam, the e85 and IC, i should be able to manage a 2.6

Originally Posted by GTPpower

I wouldn't get so hung up on pulley sizes. Zzp made 464 whp on a 3.0 pulley.

I want the noise.