Engine gone SR or RB

Hi guys, been having a few misfire issues lately got the car compression tested today and it's showing 100,95,100,115 so it's time for a replacement engine.

Car is an S15 with s14 engine and loom running below mods, chassis is spotless so good basis to build on.

Fc commander
Mazworx top mount
Mazworx downpipe
Gt3076R
44mm tial and screamer
Greddy plenum
740cc injectors
Hard wired walbro pump
Greddy intercooler

Now my choice is drop in another SR engine or RB25?

If I was to go RB25 would source a gtst and do a swap over and sell my spec off plus strip the gtst down which should pretty much break even with the cost of fitting RB doing it myself.

What's better choice that people would recommend? It's a weekend car so no rush on time limit just like to do it properly if I'm going to be spend 2kish any fabrication work is fine work along side a welding/fabricating company as well.

Thanks

With that turbo setup you'd want a built sr ideally as a standard one won't last long.

What's the going rate for a built one?

Stick with Sr20 tho i would have a good look at your current engine and forge it that way you know it's all been done correctly


If you do convert it v8 everytime .

I would love a V8 one miss my old RS4 V8 but bet it's not cheap! Will be checking mine but would rather a ready built bolt in one

I'm not keen on buying a rebuilt one it's going to be 2000+ these days and you have to take someone's word on the spec and who built it. Too many bad stories on forums about bad forged engines.


Depends on what v8 you use but can be very expensive.

Well I'm not confident enough to build my own engine/tools/space and been quoted 4k for a basic forge build! That's why I looked at RB25 cause can sell my set up to cover costs. Would love a forged engine cause with the set up I got

i went with a rb and found out that the price of the conversion, even doing it yourself like i did, you dont get any more power, actually i lost power lol, until you chuck money in to that engine, which with a rb is more expensive than a sr

Guessing then with having a perfect 450-550 setup (minus gearbox) worth getting a forged unit? Just love the RB sound!

Yeah if you can't do the work it makes it very expensive. With that in mind i doubt you would get a decent spec rb25 for 4k running.

There is loads of engine builders but to cut your costs get your own parts from places like limit less imports and the states. Then you just need to find someone to build it . So your looking at £500 to 1500 in labour

Not sure if apex still have them but they had stroker kits for 1200 quid i reckon it could be done for under 3 grand using decent parts then you know you have a freshly built motor.

My v8 will do 500hp stock but all the fabrication would cost 1000s. The engine and gearbox was cheap enough just over a grand

Well got a few options only found out tonight the engine is on its way out so going to start this weekend removing the old one and see how bad of a state it's in.

Oh my 500hp V8 would be in love but can see it's not cheap! What engine is it?

Buy my R33 spec2 gtst engine loom and ecu!! Low miles (40000km's) throw a steel headgasket on and itll run 450 all day long 😀

Your turbo would suit an RB nicely. But you'd need another manifold.

I'd stick with a built SR if it was me.

thanks for the input put it up for sale atm just see if i get any interest been fully honest about it. If no luck will be looking at the built route i got everything else except engine to get a good set up.

who rebuilt the motor 1000 miles ago?

its had a head rebuilt put on a 1000miles ago, not sure Greg said the last head on it was ruined and this one is pretty much new and so does the metal head gasket. As for the bottom block would say thats not been touched.

unless your going to brake it I doubt your going to get your 9k bud :(

what would you say is a good price? :( so gutted!

Did you do the compression test properly as the vid u posted on the other thread the car sounded fine apart from fuel cut.

think so, was warm engine and disconnected injector/fuel input. I am honestly surprised it drives fine just not on boost would expect the whole car to run shit :/

Right my four options are...

Sell for around £9k making a loss

Build a new engine loss of £3-5k

Another standard engine loss of £1-1.5k

Break for parts (but back fire and be stuck with half a car)rough calculation was showing around the £11k mark

yeah it sucks man. breaking is a pain in the ass

Could always look into a turbo 1uz I have spare set of engine mounts and adaptor plate for a Z33 or sr20 box(not sure how long a sr box would last tho)

I also know a bloke who could do the whole conversion for you and his prices are pretty good.

You have throttle wide open while cranking on warm engine with all spark plugs out and a decent battery. If battery seems a little weak crank with jump leads from a running car.

yeh as what Redsx hints at, are you sure the compression test is good before going into panic sell mode. If the car is running fine apart from a miss fire at 4k then i wouldnt write off the engine just yet - you tried gapping down the plugs to make sure its just not spark being blown out?

for testing - make sure all spark plugs out, good battery, throttle full open.

If you have another car then check the compression guage on it to confirm whether its not a dodgy gauge.

Then do some fault finding, add a couple teaspoons of oil to the cylinders as low comp over 4 would indicate its rings if you get improved readings.

If you can get hold of a leak down tester then check the engine with that - out of intrest do you know what cams are in the car? not anything with huge overlap by any chance?

The other thing to remember is that even if your engine did need rebuilding, you don't need a tuning specialist to do it. Proper independent engine builders/reconditioners exist all over the place, you can supply parts and they will build at a fraction of the cost of some tuner places because it's their bread and butter work.

Will try thiS guys, if no luck replacing engine. Thanks

When i tested it, we compared the gauge on my friends car that showed 150 across all four just rebuilt. Didnt try with full throttle so will so that and try adding oil.

Got a few options so looking like i wont be selling just going to rebuild or replace the engine with another SR one. Will look at other engine builders and with the cams not sure they look shallow overlap so nothing crazy.

also has it got adjustable verniers on the cam?

you mention in your for sale post that its had a new head in past 1000miles so just before you bought it. I think its not timed correctly and your off by a tooth and they have adjusted CAS or vernier to make it run.

Where is the CAS sitting in relation to bolts in the slot? and are you confident enough to take rocker cover off to check timing chain is on the right links.

where you based?

Had the rocker cover off and is like new inside no wear at all was told the last head was destroyed by Greg at Protuner. I got a friend whos very good with engines so will be getting him to look. He said he could rebuild me one but doing his and his brothers next so will be a while till he can get chance. will mention what you said s200rat but if anyone fancies lending a hand i live Telford, Shropshire and can supply tea and biscuits ha.

I'd be very surprised if Greg at protuner damaged it bud he's probs the best Sr turner in the country.

Yep Greg is well regarded so I would say it's the previous owner saying that in spite.

As for your engine, if you've already had the rocker off then you won't be scared to try this

Set piston 1 at TDC I.e crank pulley with the mark 2nd one from the left if on a stock crank pulley and then check your cam dowel pin positions. Exhaust at 12 oclock, 10 oclock on the intake. Count pins on the chain between the timing marks, there should be 20

http://www.sr20-forum.com/naturally-...ft-timing.html

This one has pictures

No sorry, Greg told me to check as he said when it was bought to him the engine head was in a bad way (cams worn, caked in black, no metal head gasket) so a good way to check if the engine head has been rebuilt (good memory) so i know its been rebuilt head wise just the bottom block guess its never been touched.

The seller told me though that the whole engine had been rebuilt 1000miles ago iv done about 300-400miles since then so doubt the whole engine has.

Cheers 200rat will look into this when i check.