So Who Has A Rebuilt Motor That Didn't Last?

[Rolls]

So I've read so many horror stories of workshops rebuilding engines on here and forgetting to tension the timing belt, wrong bearing clearances, oil pumps not machined correctly, wrong oil pump etc.

I'm sure I only hear the bad stories, but I'd like to get an idea of how many percent of engines workshop or user built don't last and blow up. The poll is multiple choice so if you have rebuilt multiple motors pick the appropriate one.

Edited September 1, 2010 by Rolls

[The Dan]

There are always going to be mistakes made when rebuilding engines. Not always by the same person but there are so many reasons an engine can not last that it's more important the person building your engine gives warranty on their work. I always put 5000k warranty on engines for that reason. No one is perfect so even the bad stories you hear may not be all that bad at the end of the day.

And usually if an engine can last more than 500km, the engine builder has done things correctly. If the engine builder stuffs up, you won't get 500km on an engine

[NickR33]

I voted more than 1 last over 5000kms

1 x RB25 - cheap arse rebuild by mechanic friend, just threw forgies in it and hoped for the best... lasted approx 25-30,000kms before it ran a bearing on the track

1 x RB25 - much better rebuild by mechanic friend, changed rods and crank this time... lasted 10,000kms before I sold it, still going strong as far as I know

1 x RB26 - built by previous owner at proper performance shop, lasted 6+ years @ 360rwkw before I ran a bearing on track (should have overfilled oil, I didn't)

1 x RB26 - rebuilt at same performance shop, pistons looked brand new, rods reused, new crank... done nearly 10,000kms, still going strong

I think you only really hear about the horror stories... people don't tend to post when everything goes as planned... also consider most motors are putting out twice or even 3 times their stock output and being driven very hard at the track etc... also it seems anybody can open a workshop and claim to be a import specialist etc...

plus sometimes shit just happens;)

[N1GTR]

Voted.

After the rebuilt stock motor died, I had an rb30 bottom built with a heap of other mods like single conversion etc and that didn't last 3000k's.

Current motor is fine though, so maybe having a seperate poll for "rebuilt after the failure and fine"?

As said, no one posts up "hey just thought I'd let you know, everythings fine"

Don't forget either as dan said there's so many reasons one can pop so it's not always the builders fault

[R31Nismoid]

Think about some places that rebuild motors etc.

Some will do one a week, if not two. Over a year that is a lot of motors in a year. Of course you hear the all about the failed one

I've had more than one, both over 5,000kms ok.

And sometimes shit just happens, a beraing might fail etc, sometimes just due to the manufacturing fault down to poor checking. So many facets that can go wrong so its quite an achivement to see how many DO last perfectly fine making big power

[Rolls]

So many facets that can go wrong so its quite an achivement to see how many DO last perfectly fine making big power

Definitely, I just want to get a better guage on how many do go wrong, hopefully the people with successful builds will click on the poll.

[N1GTR]

The people with successful builds are probably out driving around

[DVS JEZ]

The people with successful builds are probably out driving around

HAHAHA.

ive rebuilt 1 RB26 stock rods and crank t04Z 419kw 4 yrs ago still going strong.

also had a SR20 with nitto parts 280kw ran 11.03 still going strong but only done low k's but not a streeter.

on a side note, the motors that fail as per nickr33 and some of my mates are built cheaply, but ofcourse even the best and expensive parts will only work if assembled correctly

[T04GTR]

dont forget people who dont check oil and water and /or cook them and wonder what all went wrong... i have heard all to often motors blowing up at the track from overheating and low oil leval/or oil surge related failures....

you can build the best motor in the world, but unless its got water or oil it wont last 10 laps..

[ahh 33 s2]

fingures crossed i can soon vote for a more then 5000km and still going, would be devasted if it failed

Edited September 1, 2010 by ahh 33 s2

[Rolls]

interesting stats, lots of failed motors but they are in the minority.

[russstuff]

Mine lasted less than 1000k.

when bought the car it had a very slight big end noise so i sent it to be repaired. the workshop didnt give me any warranty so its cost me loads now.. (still getting built)

also on that note, i got the same place to overhaul the gearbox at the same time. while its getting built at the moment i asked the builder to check it out again, turns out the thing is so bad were not sure its worth putting back together again...

at least the shop its at now give warranty... an expensive lesson. i just never thought to ask about it i just assumed that if it poo'd itself so quickly it'd be covered....

[Rolls]

i just assumed that if it poo'd itself so quickly it'd be covered....

if you took them to court they would have to pay up, but being as you didn't conduct the deal with them the previous owner would have to go.

[Touge Kyousou]

Rebuild still going strong after 68xxxkms. Not being pushed hard though.

[The Dan]

if you took them to court they would have to pay up, but being as you didn't conduct the deal with them the previous owner would have to go.

Workshops don't have to give warranty on performance engines. Standard engines - yes......modified engines - no.

This is why a lot of the workshops around get away with dodgey rebuilds. I've had to clean up a few from other places

[Rolls]

Workshops don't have to give warranty on performance engines. Standard engines - yes......modified engines - no.

This is why a lot of the workshops around get away with dodgey rebuilds. I've had to clean up a few from other places

Sure but even though they don't have to give insurance on it there is a thing called unreasonable faults. Eg if you buy a TV with a 12 month warranty and it fails dramatically 12 months out you can argue that it did not have a reasonable life time considering the parts and more often than not get it replaced.

The thing is no one can be bothered going to court over it.

[Trozzle]

not on the note of engine builds, but moreso warranty - My downhill mountain bike has Marzocchi 888's on the front. A few months ago, I dropped off something no more than 1m above ground, landed perfectly fine, but one side of the lowers split roughly 10cm. Like the metal itself just split. Emailed the aussie distributor asking wtf can be done, and how much to repair seeing as they were a few months short of being 3 years old, and only had a 12 month limited warranty...got them fixed for no more than postage ($60). A lot of manufacturers will honour a warranty repair well outside the warranty coverage when it's something that simply should not happen.

[Ziller]

Dispite what is known as factory problems with the RB26, example...the need for an oil restrictor, sump too small, oil pump, none metal head gasket etc.. in the early days I had a standard factory built engine with some bolt on mods, with the none standad Nizmo dash showing 84,000ks on it, like a lot of GTR's, Im sure it would have been more, this was an unopened engine over 12 years old!

I had thrashed this engine without mercy with many trips to Calder sailing down the 400m strip at 11.8 with shity tyres and poor 60ft times time and time again in the old girl, ok, thinking it was invinserble, on a hot summers day on a dyno at drag tag and caining it around a simulated track for a bit of fun when it was running hot, it developed a very slight head gasket leak, remember a 12 year old factory engine. (silly boy)

Ah ha, now my chance for the big engine build using many big named parts, after the high cost I became a much more moderate driver and user of the car with no drag racing or any real thrashing and a new found respect for the car, this did not save me, (a long story) 1st engine 7,000kms blown, 2nd 2,000 kms, bearings gone, 3rd engine now with a brand new crankshaft and Nizmo graded bearings and a new engine builder, it is running fine. IMO this will be one of the keys to its longevity.

(BUT) I wonder what would have happened if I had just got a brand new factory built N1 crate motor for $10,000 at the time from japan right from the start and just put on a set of turbos and keeped it real, everything brand new from top to bottom then just part out the old engine and maybe save tens of thousands of dollars and lots head aches.

I guess I'll never know will I.

[Rolls]

Yeah sounds like it is all in the assembly and not the quality of the parts a lot of the time. Wrong clearances etc and not using 100% clean parts.

[russstuff]

Workshops don't have to give warranty on performance engines. Standard engines - yes......modified engines - no.

This is why a lot of the workshops around get away with dodgey rebuilds. I've had to clean up a few from other places

The place where i'm getting my engine built now will give warranty, i just dont know how much for me as i'm a bit of a 1 off i think... they mostly build the Ford XR6T motors.

i am lucky they accepted my job as they are very good to deal with!! i think it helped that my mate had just had his XR6 ute built there and he's putting out 422rwkw.. that in its self is good, but he was also given a 2 year unlimited warranty as far as i know (within reason i bet). but they told him to boost it to whatever he wanted, they dont care if drags it or tracks it! oh and did i mention this place is super friendly and easy to deal with!!!!

he even came out on a weekend to help with getting the tow and bits and pieces from my olds (where i dumped it) as i'm overseas working for the next couple of months.

after pulling my car out of CRD for alot of reasons (in the morning before i left!) its good to have someone you can trust!

i cant wait to come home and have a blast when she's done!!