As you may have read my motor let go last Monday (threw a rod). I'm not sure if I want to continue this hobby and place more time, energy and last money into the car. If I sold the car as is I could pay off what I owe and be free of a car payment. Already have my daily driver....
Here is my question for those who may have had to face this same decision to build after losing the first engine. How many miles do you hope for or reasonably expect from your built engine?
I was hoping to beat the odds when running 13 psi on a stock block with 100 octane. I wanted to make it a year before building. Now after experiencing the crappy feeling of "all my fun coming to an end" waiting for the tow truck...I will not play such long odds.
As I stated all along ( in previous posts ) the purpose for me to build my engine would be for longevity. For me that means keeping the power no more than 550 rwhp not anything real crazy. I hate not being able to access risk any better than asking for input on the internet about this topic.
I am not rushing into any decsions only trying to come to a decsion that is right for me. After the experience of my engine dying a violent death I felt so much let down that I was without my toy. Of course I did feel bad for the money I spent but I am the one who worked a $hit load of overtime for that.
If you have experince please share....

Thanks

 

well running 13psi on a stock block even on 100 octane, should have known, if your gonna go with that kind of aggressive tune, Its not gonna last on the rods, probaly had head lift too, what kind of number where you making.

IMO every built motor i have seen that is DD has some kind of problem, I believe the problem is solved but your gonna need a built and sleeved longblock with some good studs. I think anything over 450 is overkill, if built and tuned to 450 your gonna have a real realiable car, im going on a year on a stock block 453rwhp@8.5psi, race every weekend on pump gas, no problems. The people going for 550+ are the ones having alot of problems.

Until i see a built DD Z that is not a money pit, i wont build a motor if i blow my stocker yet, too many issues need to be solved. Unless you have the money about 25k+ to ship off your car and have it built right, If i were you and didnt want to rebuild a motor, ide just buy a stock shortblock and swap it in, and just re-tune, but buiding is pretty much making the Z a whole different car

 

<< thats sucks...sorry not match of a help...
good look bro.

 

well running 13psi on a stock block even on 100 octane, should have known, if your gonna go with that kind of aggressive tune, Its not gonna last on the rods, probaly had head lift too, what kind of number where you making.
Thanks for the lecture...but I really don't need it.

IMO every built motor i have seen that is DD has some kind of problem,

This never was my daily driver.

I believe the problem is solved but your gonna need a built and sleeved longblock with some good studs. I think anything over 450 is overkill, if built and tuned to 450 your gonna have a real realiable car, im going on a year on a stock block 453rwhp@8.5psi, race every weekend on pump gas, no problems. The people going for 550+ are the ones having alot of problems.

I never seen any signs of head lift on my car. Does your shop tell you that a sleeved block is requried to prevent head lift at the 550 rwhp mark or are you suggesting this for overall "longevity"?
I had more than 450 rwhp and it was not "overkill" for me....

Until i see a built DD Z that is not a money pit, i wont build a motor if i blow my stocker yet, too many issues need to be solved. Unless you have the money about 25k+ to ship off your car and have it built right, If i were you and didnt want to rebuild a motor, ide just buy a stock shortblock and swap it in, and just re-tune, but buiding is pretty much making the Z a whole different car
I will sell the car before I boost a stock bottom end again ( much less buy another one for that purpose ). There is no going back on what power I already had...
Once again not really looking for advice by those "well" intentioned yet who lack the experience.

Thanks

 

Thanks...don't be sorry. You should have seen the smile on my face ( and the look of horror on my passangers') every time I got on that car.... The car rocked

 

lol

 

Thanks for calling the other day. I was sorry to hear about the engine letting go, but at least you enjoyed some serious crazy numbers out of the stock block. Once your new motor is up and running, you will quickly forget about this episode, and the smile will return to your face.

If you build a quality forged motor, and take all the necessary steps to insure a safe build-up and tune, there is no reason, that a daily driven forged engine can't last for a very long time. Use a shop that you trust dearly, and one that will do all the "little" things that insure a safe buildup.

Let me know if I can help.

 

Thanks Shariff....
In my heart I do want my car back built. However even built I'm not sure I would have enough faith to make it my daily driver. Just like my stock block...I think the ole Honda Civic will always be considered a mod to my modded Z. Im really thinking about the UTEC Shariff. How many maps can I have on the fly with the UTEC?

 

On my last VQ35 forged engine, which was very basic..no sleeves, no special studs, not even an upgraded radiator, I daily drove the car for 22K miles at near 600whp the entire time, and the entire engine was in perfect condition when I tore it down.

It can be done. Proper parts selection, assembly, tuning, and auxilliary upgrades are the key.

If you only drive the car on the weekends, I would expect the engine to last indefinately.

 

Great question Marc and since I'm in the same boat I'd also like to hear more built motor experiences. Not to hijack your thread but I'm too looking for reliability, even more than performance and don't want a car that's so temperamental I have to constantly worry.

 

Yep I'm not trying to spend R&D dollars. I'm trying to purchase fun with some reliable knowlege of what Im getting into. The VQ35 has not been out all that long...
Just be patient Brian. We will make the right decision as long as its not rash. Pm me your number Brian and I'll give you a call later on tonight. Now I must spend some "wife" time.

 

pm sent

 

Dude im not trying to lecture you, you post on a FI forum, im just telling the truth, not trying to offend you, if i did im sorry.

My shop JOTECH doesnt use SGP for most builds, and use other sources, head lift will happend either way at hi boost, sleeved or unsleeved, it getting the right studs to hold it down. I used to build honda motors, and we always sleeved the blocked and decked it. Im not saying one shop is better than the others, but if you really look...90% of built motor have alot of problems, SGP has built alot of motor on here that i have heard of headlift problems, but they are trying to make max power, so i understand little things like this, this is really still new, and 2 years from now, well be building in a whole different way IMO

IMO 450+ on my street is enough for me, i dont think the car is safe with 600hp, and i dont feel safe in it, please anyone with 600rwhp, explain what 5th gear going sideways on the higway feel like. Also a Z with 350-400 will usually beat a z with 600hp from a DIG, traction...now on the highway its alot different, nigh and day

Its not that i lack experience, my car gets tuned by the best, hands down, my set up is very basic, and makes the most power from a Greddy kit, and has been running perfect...while i read every post on here about..blowing up...going through hell..and spending crazy amounts of money. I really have no intetions of tring to be the fastest, but i want a very reliable car. I have been stock block for more than a year living in dallas, very hot. i have read every post about blowing up, and if i blow up, ill swap in a stocker, i think a stock block is easy and fast to find, and can be put in to the car in a day, unlike MOST built motors, so this was just another way of having a car while your motor is being built

and ...if you couldnt afford a build from the beginning you should have never went FI

 

So what could you get away with in costs, if you just put in a stock block and other parts required to get it up and running?

 

90% of built motors do not have problems...that is your opinion...but not fact.

If the poster's goal is 500-550whp, there is a clear path to very safe power, without sleeving the block.

 

Most shops will charge at least 2k to pull and re-install a motor...do you know what was damaged exactly? block only? heads?

 

No not yet, she's still sitting lifeless in my garage. It's a sad thing.

 

Thanks junior....now run along to another post and spread your wisdom.

 

Man this thread hits home for me..I just blew my motor 2 months ago and get my baby back next weekend....I went through all the same thoughts and feelings and made my decison..I almost sold my car....But I decided not to and now can't wait to drive my car more than anything.....Call me up Marc....

 

well i wanted a few years after my build i got two weeks.. at 500 to 550 rwhp so nothings garunteed .. im throwing in my towel and waiting for the gtr or m3